Family Procedure Rules Give us your viewsHelp us improve these pages by taking part in our short survey.Family Procedure RulesWeb Version Practice Direction - Practice Directions Relating to Family Proceedings in Force before 6th April 2011 which Support the Family Procedure Rules 2010 Part 1 - Overriding Objective Part 2 - Application and Interpretation of the Rules Practice Direction 2A - Functions of the Court in the Family Procedure Rules 2010 and Practice Directions which may be performed by a single lay justice Practice Direction 2B – References in the Rules to Actions Done by the Court or by a Court Officer Practice Direction 2C – Justices’ legal adviser Part 3 - Non-court Dispute Resolution Part 3A - Vulnerable persons participation in proceedings and giving evidence Practice Direction 3A - Family Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMS) Practice Direction 3AA - Vulnerable persons: participation in proceedings and giving evidence Part 4 - General Case Management Powers Practice Direction 4A - Striking Out a Statement of Case Practice Direction 4B - Civil Restraint Orders Part 5 - Forms, start of proceedings and communication with the court Practice Direction 5A - Forms Practice Direction 5B - Communication and filing of documents by e-mail Practice Direction 5C – Communications with the court Part 6 - Service Practice Direction 6A - Service Within the Jurisdiction Practice Direction 6B - Service Out of the Jurisdiction Practice Direction 6C - Disclosure of Addresses by Government Departments Part 7 - Procedure for Applications in Matrimonial and Civil Partnership Proceedings Practice Direction 7A - Procedure for Applications in Matrimonial and Civil Partnership Proceedings Practice Direction 7B - Medical Examinations on Applications for Annulment of a Marriage Practice Direction 7C - Polygamous Marriages Practice Direction 7D - The Gender Recognition Act 2004 Part 8 - Procedure for Miscellaneous Applications Practice Direction 8A - Where to start certain proceedings Part 9 - Applications for a Financial Remedy Practice Direction 9A - Application for a Financial Remedy Practice Direction 9B - Communication of information from financial remedy proceedings Part 10 - Applications under Part 4 of the Family Law Act 1996 Practice Direction 10A - Part 4 of the Family Law Act 1996 Part 11 - Applications under Part 4A of the Family Law Act 1996 Part 12 - Proceedings Relating to Children Except Parental Order Proceedings and Proceedings for Applications in Adoption, Placement and Related Proceedings Practice Direction 12A - Care, Supervision and Other Part 4 Proceedings: Guide to Case Management Practice Direction 12B - Child Arrangements Programme Practice Direction 12C - Service of Application in Certain Proceedings Relating to Children Practice Direction 12D - Inherent Jurisdiction (Including Wardship) Proceedings Practice Direction 12E - Urgent Business Practice Direction 12F - International Child Abduction Practice Direction 12G - Communication of Information Practice Direction 12H - Contribution Orders Practice Direction 12I - Applications for Reporting Restriction Orders Practice Direction 12J - Child Arrangements and Contact Order: Domestic Violence and Harm Practice Direction 12K - Children Act 1989: Exclusion Requirement Practice Direction 12L - Children Act 1989:Risk Assessments under Section 16A Practice Direction 12M - Family Assistance Orders: Consultation Practice Direction 12N - Enforcement of Children Act 1989 Child Arrangements Orders: Disclosure and Information to Officers of the National Probation Service Practice Direction 12O - Child: Arrival by air Practice Direction 12P - Removal from Jurisdiction: Issue of Passports Part 13 - Proceedings Under Section 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 Part 14 - Procedure for Applications in Adoption, Placement and Related Proceedings Practice Direction 14A - Who Receives a Copy of the Application Form for Orders in Proceedings Practice Direction 14B - The First Directions Hearing - Adoptions with a Foreign Element Practice Direction 14C - Reports by the Adoption Agency or Local Authority Practice Direction 14D - Reports by a Registered Medical Practitioner ('Health Reports') Practice Direction 14E - Communication of Information Relating to Proceedings Practice Direction 14F - Disclosing Information to an Adopted Adult Part 15 - Representation of Protected Parties Practice Direction 15A - Protected Parties Practice Direction 15B - Adults Who May be Protected Parties and Children Who May Become Protected Parties in Family Proceedings Part 16 - Representation of Children and Reports in Proceedings Involving Children Practice Direction 16A - Representation of Children Part 17 - Statements of Truth Practice Direction 17A - Statements of Truth Part 18 - Procedure for other Applications in Proceedings Practice Direction 18A - Other Applications in Proceedings Part 19 - Alternative Procedure for Applications Practice Direction 19A - Alternative Procedure for Applications Part 20 - Interim Remedies and Security for Costs Practice Direction 20A - Interim Remedies Part 21 - Miscellaneous Rules about Disclosure and Inspection of Documents Practice Direction 21A - Disclosure and Inspection Part 22 - Evidence Practice Direction 22A - Written Evidence Part 23 - Miscellaneous Rules about Evidence Part 24 - Witnesses, Depositions Generally and taking of Evidence in Member States of the European Union Practice Direction 24A - Witnesses and Depositions generally Part 25 - Experts and Assessors Practice Direction 25A - Experts and Assessors in Family Proceedings Practice Direction 25B - The Duties of an Expert, the Expert's Report and Arrangements for an Expert to Attend Court Practice Direction 25C - Children Proceedings - the Use of Single Joint Experts and the Process Leading to an Expert Being Instructed or Expert Evidence Being Put Before the Court Practice Direction 25D - Financial Remedy Proceedings and Other Family Proceedings (Except Children Proceedings) - the Use of Single Joint Experts and the Process Leading to Expert Evidence Being Put Before the Court Practice Direction 25E - Discussions Between Experts in Family Proceedings Practice Direction 25F - Assessors in Family Proceedings Practice Direction 25G – Toxicology test evidence Part 26 - Change of Solicitor Practice Direction 26A - Change of Solicitor Part 27 - Hearings and Directions Appointments Practice Direction 27A - Family Proceedings: Court Bundles (Universal Practice to be Applied in the High Court and Family Court) Practice Direction 27B - Attendance of Media Representatives at Hearings in Family Proceedings Part 28 - Costs Practice Direction 28A - Costs Part 29 - Miscellaneous Practice Direction 29A - Human Rights, Joining the Crown Practice Direction 29B - Human Rights Act 1998 Practice Direction 29C – Transfer of proceedings from the family court to the high court Part 30 - Appeals Practice Direction 30A - Appeals Practice Direction 30B - Appeals - Transparency Part 31 - Registration of Orders under the Council Regulation, the Civil Partnership (Jurisdiction and Recognition of Judgments) Regulations 2005 and under the Hague Convention 1996 Practice Direction 31A - Registration of Orders under the 1996 Hague Convention Part 32 - Registration and Enforcement of Orders Practice Direction 32A – Forms Relating to Part 32 Part 33 - Enforcement Practice Direction 33A - Enforcement of Undertakings Part 34 - Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Practice Direction 34A - Reciprocal Enforcement of Mainenance Orders Practice Direction 34B - Tracing Payers Overseas Practice Direction 34C - REVOKED Practice Direction 34D – Form Relating to Part 34 Practice Direction 34E – Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders – Designated Family Judge Areas Part 35 - Mediation Directive Practice Direction 35A - REVOKED Part 36 - Transitional Arrangements and Pilot Schemes Practice Direction 36A - Transitional Arrangements Practice Direction 36C - Pilot Scheme: Care and Supervision Proceedings and Other Proceedings under Part 4 of the Children Act 1989Practice Direction 36D - Pilot scheme: procedure for using an online system to generate applications in certain proceedings for a matrimonial order Practice Direction 36E - Pilot Scheme: Procedure for online filing of applications in certain proceedings for a matrimonial orderPractice Direction 36F - Pilot scheme - Procedure for using interventions before a first hearing dispute resolution appointment in certain private law proceedings relating to chlidren Practice Direction 36G - Pilot Scheme: Procedure for using an online system to generate applications in certain private law proceedings relating to children Practice Direction 36H - Pilot Scheme: Procedure for service of certain protection orders on the police Practice Direction 36I – Pilot Scheme: Procedure for online filing of certain applications for consent orders for a financial remedy in connection with matrimonial proceedings Practice Direction 36J - Pilot Scheme: Transparency (attendance at hearings in private) Practice Direction 36K – Pilot Scheme: Procedure for the bulk scanning of certain private law applications Practice Direction 36L - Pilot Scheme: Procedure for using an online system to complete certain stages of certain proceedings for a matrimonial order Practice Direction 36M - Pilot Scheme: online system for certain public law proceedings and emergency proceedings relating to children Practice Direction 36N - Pilot Scheme: Procedure for online filing and progression of certain applications for a financial remedy in connection with certain proceedings for a matrimonial order Practice Direction 36O - Pilot Scheme: Procedure for bulk scanning of certain documents Practice Direction 36P – Pilot Scheme: Placement proceedings: procedure for specified steps to be taken via the online system Practice Direction 36Q: Pilot provision: modification of Practice Direction 12B – Coronavirus Practice Direction 36R – Pilot provision: modification of practice directions 2c, 5b and 12a - Coronavirus Practice Direction 36S – Pilot provision: announcements in open court (suspension of certain requirements) Practice Direction 36T – pilot provision – proceeding by electronic means: procedure for an application for a consent order for a financial remedy in connection with divorce proceedings Practice Direction 36U – pilot provision: service and notification of applications and orders under part 4 of the family law act 1996 Practice Direction 36V – Pilot scheme: Family mediation voucher scheme Part 37 - Applications and proceedings in relation to contempt of court Practice Direction 37A - Applications and Proceedings in Relation to Contempt of Court Part 38 - Recognition and enforcement of protection measures
 Practice Direction 38A – Recognition and Enforcement of Protection Measures Part 39 - Attachment of earnings Part 40 - Charging order, stop order, stop notice Part 40A - Charging order, stop orders, stop notices PART 41 - Proceeding by electronic means Practice Direction 41A - Proceeding by electronic means: certain proceedings for a matrimonial order Practice Direction 41B - Proceeding by electronic means: procedure for an application for a consent order for a financial remedy in connection with divorce proceedings Practice Direction 41C – Proceeding by electronic means: appeals in family proceedings heard in the High Court (PD comes into force 1 February 2021) Updated: Wednesday, 7 April 2021