29 November 2007
An update on the work of the family procedure rule committee between August and December 2007.
December 2007
The Committee met to continue its consideration of draft Family Procedure Rules and Practice Directions and received reports from its Experts Working Party and Child Abduction Working Party.
The Committee also examined draft amendments to the existing Family Proceedings Rules arising out of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 and Part 1 of the Children and Adoption Act 2006.
November 2007
The committee met to give its first consideration to amendments to the Family Proceedings Rules required by the amendments to Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996 arising out of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007.
The general provisions contained in Part X of the Family Proceedings Rules 1991 were also considered; in particular, how these provisions might be catered for in the new Family Procedure Rules. Further examination of the document containing draft Family Procedure Rules and Practice Directions was undertaken, with emphasis on the rules relating to giving notice of final adoption hearings.
The committee's Experts Working Party met to consider a draft practice direction relating to the use of experts in children's proceedings.
October 2007
The committee met to consider issues arising out of the draft rules and practice directions that had been studied by members over the summer. Areas of discussion included rules and practice directions relating to appeals, experts and claims under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984. Discussion was also held on the overall timetable for the making and implementation of the Family Procedure Rules.
The committee's child abduction working party met to give further consideration to draft rules for proceedings relating to international child abduction, including proceedings arising out of article 11.7 of the Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003.
August/September 2007
The committee and its working parties did not meet in August or September.
Following the development of draft Family Procedure Rules and practice directions by the committee and its working parties, a set of drafts combining all the rules that have been worked upon was compiled into one master document of draft rules and practice directions. This document was considered in detail by members during the Long Vacation and written comments were submitted for consideration at future meetings.