Practice and procedure

View Family by content type:

News
Practice notes
Precedents
Q&As

Sub Topics We Cover

Allocation and transfer Appeals and judicial review Capacity and vulnerable parties Evidence and disclosure Family law reform FPR 2010 fundamental principles and index Managing proceedings online McKenzie friends and litigants in person Media access and transparency Non-court dispute resolution Parts 18 and 19 applications Service Standard orders Striking out and civil restraint orders

Latest Family News

Dignity, delay, and declarations on best interests (NHS South East London ICB v JP & the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability)

Dignity, delay, and declarations on best interests (NHS South East London ICB v JP & the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability)

The following Private Client news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Dignity, delay, and declarations on best interests (NHS South East London ICB v JP & the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability)

The Court of Appeal clarifies approach to the test for appointment of intermediaries (Re M (A Child: Intermediaries)

The Court of Appeal clarifies approach to the test for appointment of intermediaries (Re M (A Child: Intermediaries)

The following Family news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on The Court of Appeal clarifies approach to the test for appointment of intermediaries (Re M (A Child: Intermediaries)

Family weekly highlights—17 April 2025

Family weekly highlights—17 April 2025

The following Family news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Family weekly highlights—17 April 2025

The Supreme Court holds that anonymity for clinicians in withdrawal of treatment cases involving children should normally be of limited duration (Abbasi v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Haastrup v King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)

The Supreme Court holds that anonymity for clinicians in withdrawal of treatment cases involving children should normally be of limited duration (Abbasi v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Haastrup v King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)

The Supreme Court holds that anonymity for clinicians in withdrawal of treatment cases involving children should normally be of limited duration (Abbasi v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Haastrup v King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)

Featured Family content

The grounds on which a marriage is voidable

The grounds on which a marriage is voidable

The grounds on which a marriage is voidableOn 6 April 2022, the provisions of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (DDSA 2020), came into...

The grounds on which a marriage is void

The grounds on which a marriage is void

The grounds on which a marriage is voidA void marriage is one that will be treated by the court as never having taken place. The grounds on which a...

Reports under section 37 of the Children Act 1989

Reports under section 37 of the Children Act 1989

Reports under section 37 of the Children Act 1989Under section 37 of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989), the court has the power to order an...

A child is subject to a supervision order made under section 31 of the Children Act 1989. The court allowed the mother to take the child out of the jurisdiction to another EU country for a relative's funeral. The mother is now refusing to return the child. What steps may be taken by the local authority to return the child to this jurisdiction?

A child is subject to a supervision order made under section 31 of the Children Act 1989. The court allowed the mother to take the child out of the jurisdiction to another EU country for a relative's funeral. The mother is now refusing to return the child. What steps may be taken by the local authority to return the child to this jurisdiction?

A child is subject to a supervision order made under section 31 of the Children Act 1989. The court allowed the mother to take the child out of the...

Practice notes

Notices and restrictions

Notices and restrictionsNotices and restrictions may be used to afford some limited protection of an asset comprising land or property, which...
Read More >
2nd Mar
Q&As

Is there any case law that addresses when hiring a private investigator, or the actions of a private investigator, crosses the boundary into unlawful behaviour such as stalking, harassment or breach of privacy?

Is there any case law that addresses when hiring a private investigator, or the actions of a private investigator, crosses the boundary into unlawful...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Tori Adams of 4 King’s Bench Walk
2nd Mar
Practice notes

Void and voidable marriages

Void and voidable marriagesThe Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (MCA 1973) sets out the grounds on which a marriage is void or voidable and the bars...
Read More >
2nd Mar
Practice notes

The meaning and scope of parental responsibility

The meaning and scope of parental responsibilityDefinitionParental responsibility is concerned with the care and upbringing of a child until they grow...
Read More >
1st Mar
Practice notes

Online divorce (pre-DDSA 2020)

Online divorce (pre-DDSA 2020)The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (DDSA 2020) is in force from 6 April 2022. Proceedings issued by the...
Read More >
2nd Mar
Precedents

Notice of acting

Notice of actingCase number [insert number][In the principal registryORIn the [insert court location] FAMILY court]Sitting at [insert place]Notice of...
Read More >
2nd Mar
Practice notes

Working with counsel

Working with counselInstructing counsel to advocate on a client’s behalf should be a matter of careful thought and preparation. The role of counsel is...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Ursula Rice of Family First Solicitors Ltd
28th Mar
Practice notes

Declarations of parentage—procedure

Declarations of parentage—procedureThe procedure for an application for a declaration of parentage is governed by the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR...
Read More >
2nd Mar
Practice notes

The definition of civil partnership

The definition of civil partnershipDefinitionWhen introduced by the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (CPA 2004), civil partnerships related only to two...
Read More >
2nd Mar
Q&As

What is the procedure to enforce a penal notice attached to an order as to the filing of a Form E?

What is the procedure to enforce a penal notice attached to an order as to the filing of a Form E?The first step is to ensure that the penal notice is...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Katherine Illsley of 4 King’s Bench Walk
28th Mar
Practice notes

The Courts and Tribunals Service Centre and divorce centres

The Courts and Tribunals Service Centre and divorce centresThe Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (DDSA 2020) is in force from 6 April 2022....
Read More >
1st Mar
tag iconCOVID-19
Precedents

Separation agreements—client guide

Separation agreements—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding separation agreements. Your family lawyer will be able to provide...
Read More >
1st Mar
Practice notes

Application to vary, extend or discharge a non-molestation or occupation order

Application to vary, extend or discharge a non-molestation or occupation orderUnder the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996) a non-molestation order is an...
Read More >
2nd Mar
tag iconCOVID-19
Practice notes

Capitalised maintenance—Duxbury calculations

Capitalised maintenance—Duxbury calculationsThe basis of Duxbury calculationsA Duxbury calculation is an actuarial calculation designed to identify...
Read More >
2nd Mar
Q&As

If the respondent to a divorce files a cross petition what steps must the first petitioner take if they wish to defend the cross petition and proceed on the basis of their first petition or they do not wish to defend the cross petition. Does the first petitioner need to file an acknowledgment of service of the cross petition or an answer?

If the respondent to a divorce files a cross petition what steps must the first petitioner take if they wish to defend the cross petition and proceed...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Chris Bryden of 4 King’s Bench Walk
28th Mar
Q&As

Does a non-molestation order or equivalent undertaking appear on a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, police check or criminal record? Does such an order or undertaking appear on advanced DBS checks and will it be listed as an offence if a non-molestation order is breached?

Does a non-molestation order or equivalent undertaking appear on a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, police check or criminal record? Does...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Katherine Illsley of 4 King’s Bench Walk
28th Mar

Popular documents

Applications for permission to appeal in the Family Court

Applications for permission to appeal in the Family CourtReforms to the family justice system that took effect on 22 April 2014 made changes to appeals, in particular as a result of the introduction of the single Family Court. The key provisions are set out in Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010),

How do you apply for a McKenzie friend to have rights of audience and/or the right to conduct litigation

How do you apply for a McKenzie friend to have rights of audience and/or the right to conduct litigation so that they may represent a litigant in person in court?This Q&A refers to ‘Form C2’ which is an ‘Application: For permission to start proceedings; For an order or directions in existing

Scotland—the process for applying for sequestration

Scotland—the process for applying for sequestrationSequestration in Scotland is the legal process by which an insolvent debtor’s estate is gathered in, realised and then distributed among their creditors by a trustee appointed for that purpose. The process requires that a formal award of

If planning permission imposes restrictions on a licensed premises opening hours, once operational can

If planning permission imposes restrictions on a licensed premises opening hours, once operational can the personal licence holder apply for a Temporary Events Notice (TEN) to open for longer hours than those permitted in the planning permission?To use any property for a licensable activity both