PART 25 - EXPERTS AND ASSESSORS
This Part applies to applications issued by the court on or after 6 April 2022. For applications issued by the court before 6 April 2022 see the following link.
See also Practice Direction 25A, Practice Direction 25B, Practice Direction 25C, Practice Direction 25D, Practice Direction 25E, Practice Direction 25F
Part 25 EXPERTS AND ASSESSORS
Interpretation
25.2
(1) In this Part–
‘children proceedings’ means –
(a) proceedings referred to in rules 12.1 and 14.1 and any other proceedings which relate wholly or mainly to the maintenance or upbringing of a minor;
(b) applications for permission to start proceedings mentioned in paragraph (a); and
(c) applications made in the course of proceedings mentioned in paragraph (a);
‘expert’ means a person who provides expert evidence for use in proceedings;
(Section 13(8) of the 2014 Act provides for what is not included in reference to providing expert evidence or putting expert evidence before the court in children proceedings)
‘single joint expert’ means a person who provides expert evidence for use in proceedings on behalf of two or more of the parties (including the applicant) to the proceedings.
(2) The meaning of ‘children proceedings’ in paragraph (1) is the prescribed meaning for the purposes of section 13(9) of the 2014 Act.
(Regulation 3 of the Restriction on the Preparation of Adoption Reports Regulations 2005 (S.I.2005/1711) sets out which persons are within a prescribed description for the purposes of section 94(1) of the 2002 Act.)
Experts' overriding duty to the court
25.3
(1) It is the duty of experts to help the court on matters within their expertise.
(2) This duty overrides any obligation to the person from whom experts have received instructions or by whom they are paid.
(Particular duties of an expert are set out in Practice Direction 25B (The Duties of an Expert, the Expert's Report and Arrangements for an Expert to Attend Court.)
Control of expert evidence in proceedings other than children proceedings
25.4
(1) This rule applies to proceedings other than children proceedings.
(2) A person may not without the permission of the court put expert evidence (in any form) before the court.
(3) The court may give permission as mentioned in paragraph (2) only if the court is of the opinion that the expert evidence is necessary to assist the court to resolve the proceedings.
(Provision relating to the control of expert evidence in children proceedings is contained in section 13 of the 2014 Act.)
Further provisions about the court's power to restrict expert evidence
25.5
(1) When deciding whether to give permission as mentioned in section 13(1), (3) or (5) of the 2014 Act or to give a direction under 38(6) of the 1989 Act in children proceedings, the court is to have regard in particular to any failure to comply with rule 25.6 or any direction of the court about expert evidence.
(1A) The matter referred to in paragraph (1) is a prescribed matter for the purposes of section 13(7)(h) of the 2014 Act and section 38(7B) of the 1989 Act.
(2) When deciding whether to give permission as mentioned in rule 25.4(1) in proceedings other than children proceedings, the court is to have regard in particular to –
(a) the issues to which the expert evidence would relate;
(b) the questions which the court would require the expert to answer;
(c) the impact which giving permission would be likely to have on the timetable, duration and conduct of the proceedings;
(d) any failure to comply with rule 25.6 or any direction of the court about expert evidence; and
(e) the cost of the expert evidence.
(3) Provision may be made in a practice direction in relation to permission to put expert evidence in relation to toxicology testing before the court.
When to apply for the court's permission
25.6
Unless the court directs otherwise, parties must apply for the court's permission as mentioned in section 13(1), (3) or (5) of the 2014 Act or rule 25.4(2) as soon as possible and –
(a) in Part 4 proceedings referred to in rule 12.2 and in so far as practicable other public law proceedings referred to in that rule, no later than a Case Management Hearing;
(b) in private law proceedings referred to in rule 12.2, no later than the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment;
(c) in adoption proceedings and placement proceedings, no later than the first directions hearing;
(d) in proceedings for a financial remedy, no later than the first appointment; and
(e) in a disputed case referred to in rule 7.1(3), no later than any Case Management Hearing directed by the court under rule 7.14.
What an application notice requesting the court's permission must include
25.7
(1) Part 18 applies to an application for the court's permission as mentioned in section 13(1), (3) or (5) of the 2014 Act or rule 25.4(2).
(iii) the issues to which the expert evidence is to relate;
(iv) whether the expert evidence could be obtained from a single joint expert;
(v) the other matters set out in Practice Direction 25C or 25D, as the case may be; and
(b) a draft of the order sought is to be attached to the application notice requesting the court’s permission and that draft order must set out the matters specified in Practice Direction 25C or 25D, as the case may be.
(3) In children proceedings, an application notice requesting the court's permission as mentioned in section 13(1), (3) or (5) of the 2014 Act must, in addition to the matters specified in paragraph (2)(a), state the questions which the expert is to be required to answer.
Where permission is granted
25.8
(1) In any proceedings, where the court grants permission as mentioned in section 13(1), (3) or (5) of the 2014 Act or rule 25.4(2) –
(a) it will grant permission only in relation to the expert named or the field identified in the application notice requesting the court's permission; and
(b) the court will give directions specifying the date by which the expert is to provide a written report.
General requirement for expert evidence to be given in a written report
25.9
(1) Expert evidence is to be given in a written report unless the court directs otherwise.
(2) The court will not direct an expert to attend a hearing unless it is necessary to do so in the interests of justice.
Written questions to experts
25.10
(1) A party may put written questions about an expert's report to –
(a) an expert instructed by another party; or
(b) a single joint expert appointed under rule 25.11.
(2) Unless the court directs otherwise or a practice direction provides otherwise, written questions under paragraph (1)–
(a) must be proportionate;
(b) may be put once only;
(c) must be put within 10 days beginning with the date on which the expert's report was served;
(d) must be for the purpose only of clarification of the report; and
(e) must be copied and sent to the other parties at the same time as they are sent to the expert.
(3) An expert's answers to questions put in accordance with paragraph (1) –
(a) must be given within the timetable specified by the court; and
(b) are treated as part of the expert's report.
Court's power to direct that evidence is to be given by a single joint expert
25.11
(1) Where two or more parties wish to put expert evidence before the court on a particular issue, the court may direct that the evidence on that issue is to be given by a single joint expert.
(2) Where the parties who wish to put expert evidence before the court (‘the relevant parties’) cannot agree who should be the single joint expert, the court may –
(a) select the expert from a list prepared or identified by the relevant parties; or
(b) direct that the expert be selected in such other manner as the court may direct.
Instructions to a single joint expert
25.12
(1) Where the court gives a direction under rule 25.11(1) for a single joint expert to be used, the instructions are to be contained in a jointly agreed letter unless the court directs otherwise.
(2) Where the instructions are to be contained in a jointly agreed letter, in default of agreement the instructions may be determined by the court on the written request of any relevant party copied to the other relevant parties.
(3) Where the court permits the relevant parties to give separate instructions to a single joint expert, each instructing party must, when giving instructions to the expert, at the same time send a copy of the instructions to the other relevant parties.
(4) The court may give directions about –
(a) the payment of the expert's fees and expenses; and
(b) any inspection, examination or assessments which the expert wishes to carry out.
(5) The court may, before an expert is instructed, limit the amount that can be paid by way of fees and expenses to the expert.
(6) Unless the court directs otherwise, the relevant parties are jointly and severally liable for the payment of the expert's fees and expenses.
Power of court to direct a party to provide information
25.13
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where a party has access to information which is not reasonably available to another party, the court may direct the party who has access to the information to –
(a) prepare and file a document recording the information; and
(b) serve a copy of that document on the other party.
(2) In proceedings under Part 14 (procedure for applications in adoption, placement and related proceedings), a court officer will send a copy of the document recording the information to the other party.
Contents of report
25.14
(1) An expert's report must comply with the requirements set out in Practice Direction 25B.
(2) At the end of an expert's report there must be a statement that the expert understands and has complied with the expert's duty to the court.
(3) The instructions to the expert are not privileged against disclosure.
(Rule 21.1 explains what is meant by disclosure.)
Use by one party of expert's report disclosed by another
25.15
Where a party has disclosed an expert's report, any party may use that expert's report as evidence at any hearing where an issue to which the report relates is being considered.
Discussions between experts
25.16
(1) The court may, at any stage, direct a discussion between experts for the purpose of requiring the experts to –
(a) identify and discuss the expert issues in the proceedings; and
(b) where possible, reach an agreed opinion on those issues.
(2) The court may specify the issues which the experts must discuss.
Expert's right to ask court for directions
25.17
(1) Experts may file written requests for directions for the purpose of assisting them in carrying out their functions.
(2) Experts must, unless the court directs otherwise, provide copies of the proposed requests for directions under paragraph (1) –
(a) to the party instructing them, at least 7 days before they file the requests; and
(b) to all other parties, at least 4 days before they file them.
(3) The court, when it gives directions, may also direct that a party be served with a copy of the directions.
Copies of orders and other documents
25.18
Unless the court directs otherwise, a copy of any order or other document affecting an expert filed with the court after the expert has been instructed, must be served on the expert by the party who instructed the expert or, in the case of a single joint expert, the party who was responsible for instructing the expert, within 2 days of that party receiving the order or other document.
Action after final hearing
25.19
(1) Within 10 business days after the final hearing, the party who instructed the expert or, in the case of a single joint expert, the party who was responsible for instructing the expert, must inform the expert in writing about the court's determination and the use made by the court of the expert’s evidence.
(2) Unless the court directs otherwise, the party who instructed the expert or, in the case of the single joint expert, the party who was responsible for instructing the expert, must send to the expert a copy of the court's final order, any transcript or written record of the court's decision, and its reasons for reaching its decision, within 10 business days from the date when the party received the order and any such transcript or record.
Assessors
25.20
(1) This rule applies where the court appoints one or more persons under section 70 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 as an assessor.
(2) An assessor will assist the court in dealing with a matter in which the assessor has skill and experience.
(3) The assessor will take such part in the proceedings as the court may direct and in particular the court may direct an assessor to –
(a) prepare a report for the court on any matter at issue in the proceedings; and
(b) attend the whole or any part of the hearing to advise the court on any such matter.
(4) If the assessor prepares a report for the court before the hearing has begun –
(a) the court will send a copy to each of the parties; and
(b) the parties may use it at the hearing.
(5) Unless the court directs otherwise, an assessor will be paid at the daily rate payable for the time being to a fee-paid deputy district judge of the principal registry and an assessor's fees will form part of the costs of the proceedings.
(6) The court may order any party to deposit in the court office a specified sum in respect of an assessor's fees and, where it does so, the assessor will not be asked to act until the sum has been deposited.
(7) Paragraphs (5) and (6) do not apply where the remuneration of the assessor is to be paid out of money provided by Parliament.
