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UPDATE: CHANGES TO THE FAMILY PROCEDURE RULES FROM 6TH APRIL 2020

Monday April 6, 2020

Family solicitor Sajeda Alli provides an update of today’s new legilation.

Every family lawyer will be aware of the Family Procedure Rules (FPR) which are a set of rules governing the practice and procedure within family proceedings in the High Court, County Courts and Magistrates’ Courts.

What some may not be aware of is that the Family Procedure Rule Committee have issued their amendments to the FPR, most of which will come into force from 6^th April 2020.

Some key amendments have been made to the following areas:

• New applications proceeding by electronic means
• Communications with the Court
• Recording and transcription of hearings
• Electronic filing of documents
• Procedure for the High Court to set aside specified types of orders

For those family lawyers who deal with Financial Remedy proceedings, there are two further rules which will come into force from 6^th July 2020 outlining the position in respect of cost estimates and the duty to make open proposals.

In order to familiarise yourself with the amendments, please visit the link below for the full guidance: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/135/made