Civil, Criminal and Family procedure rules and their related practice directions

Civil procedure rules

The civil procedure rules make up a procedural code whose overriding aim is to enable the courts to deal with cases justly.

Criminal procedure rules

The criminal procedure rules give courts explicit powers to actively manage the preparation of criminal cases waiting to be heard, to get rid of unfair and avoidable delays.

Family procedure rules

The family procedure rules are a single set of rules governing the practice and procedure in family proceedings in the high court, county courts and magistrates’ courts.

Other procedure rules for magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court

There are also some procedure rules for magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court which are not made by the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee or the Family Procedure Rule Committee.