This Practice Direction supplements Part 12 and Part 18.

1.Definitions

1.1In this Practice Direction –

“2021 Act” means the Domestic Abuse Act 2021;

“child concerned” has the same meaning as in section 91A(6) of the 1989 Act;

“domestic abuse” has the same meaning as in Practice Direction 12J;

“harm” has the same meaning as in Practice Direction 12J subject to sections 31(9) and 91A(3) of the 1989 Act;

“victim of domestic abuse” has the same meaning as in Practice Direction 12J; and

“named person” means the person named in a section 91(14) order who must seek the court’s leave before making a specified application.

2.Key principles

2.1 Section 91(14) orders are available to prevent a person from making future applications under the 1989 Act without leave of the court. They are a protective filter made by the court, in the interests of children.

2.2The court has a discretion to determine the circumstances in which an order would be appropriate. These circumstances may be many and varied. They include circumstances where an application would put the child concerned, or another individual, at risk of harm (as provided in section 91A), such as psychological or emotional harm. The welfare of the child is paramount.

2.3 These circumstances can also include where one party has made repeated and unreasonable applications; where a period of respite is needed following litigation; where a period of time is needed for certain actions to be taken for the protection of the child or other person; or where a person’s conduct overall is such that an order is merited to protect the welfare of the child directly, or indirectly due to damaging effects on a parent carer. Such conduct could include harassment, or other oppressive or distressing behaviour beyond or within the proceedings including via social media and e-mail, and via third parties. Such conduct might also constitute domestic abuse.

2.4 A future application could also be part of a pattern of coercive or controlling behaviour or other domestic abuse toward the victim, such that a section 91(14) order is also merited due to the risk of harm to the child or other individual.

2.5 There is no definition in section 91A of who the other individual could be that could be put at risk of harm. However, it is most likely to be, but is not limited to, another person who has parental responsibility for the child and/or is living with or has contact with the child, or any other individual who would be a prospective respondent to a future application.

2.6In proceedings in which domestic abuse is alleged or proven, or in which there are allegations or evidence of other harm to a child or other individual, the court should give early and ongoing consideration to whether it would be appropriate to make a section 91(14) order on disposal of the application, even if an application for such an order has not been made (since the court may make an order of its own motion – see section 91A(5)).

2.7 Section 91(14) orders are a protective filter – not a bar on applications – and there is considerable scope for their use in appropriate cases. Proceedings under the 1989 Act should not be used as a means of harassment or coercive control, or further abuse against a victim of domestic abuse or other person, and the court should therefore give due consideration to whether a future application would have such an impact.

2.8 The court should consider case law for further guidance and relevant principles, bearing in mind Parliament’s insertion via the 2021 Act of section 91A into the 1989 Act.

3.Procedure

3.1 Under section 91A, a section 91(14) order may be made by the court of its own motion. If at any stage of the proceedings the court is considering making such an order of its own motion, it should record this fact in an order, together with any related directions (see, for example, paragraph 3.5).

3.2 An application for such an order may also be made by an individual who alleges a risk of harm from a future application, or by or on behalf of the child to whom the application would relate, or by another party to the application being disposed of.

3.3 If an application is made, the Part 18 procedure should be used. The application may be made in writing using Form C2, or orally during the hearing.

3.4 Under section 91(14), an order may only be made when disposing of another application under the Act, but section 91(14) is silent on when an application for such an order may be made. In proceedings in which risk of harm is alleged or proven, including but not limited to domestic abuse, the court should therefore give early and ongoing consideration to the question of whether a section 91(14) order might be appropriate on disposal of the application, and to whether any particular findings of fact will be needed to determine the section 91(14) application.

3.5 If an application is made, or the court is considering making an order of its own motion, the court should also consider what opportunity for representations should be provided to the parties. Courts should look to case law for further guidance and principles.

3.6 If the court decides to make a section 91(14) order, the court should give consideration as to the following matters:

a.the duration of the order (see section 4);

b.whether the order should cover all or only certain types of application under the 1989 Act;

c.whether service of any subsequent application for leave should be prohibited until the court has made an initial determination of the merits of such an application (see section 6). Such an order delaying service would help to ensure that the very harm or other protective function that the order is intended to address, is not undermined; and

d.whether upon any subsequent application for leave, the court should make an initial determination of the merits of the application without an oral hearing (see section 6).

4.Duration

4.1 Sections 91(14) and 91A are silent on the duration of a section 91(14) order. The court therefore has a discretion as to the appropriate duration of the order. Any time limit imposed should be proportionate to the harm it is seeking to avoid. If the court decides to make a section 91(14) order, the court should explain its reasons for the duration ordered.

5.Types of application

5.1 Sections 91(14) and 91A give a discretion to the court as to the types of application under the 1989 Act that can be made subject to permission from the court. If the court decides to make a section 91(14) order, the court should consider which types of application should be specified in the order, and it should explain its reasons.

6.Application for leave

6.1 If, once a section 91(14) order has been made, the named person wishes to seek the court’s leave to make a specified application, the Part 18 procedure applies subject to the following directions.

6.2 The application for leave must be made using Form C2, with two attachments: (i) a draft of the application for which permission is sought; and (ii) a witness statement setting out the grounds on which permission is sought, including whether there has been a material change of circumstances since the court made the section 91(14) order.

6.3 If the named person applies for leave, the Part 18 service rules apply, unless the court, when it made the section 91(14) order, prohibited service until initial determination of the merits of the application for leave (see section 3 above). In that case, the named person or court officer, as the case may be, must await that determination, and any directions from the court, before serving the respondent(s).

6.4 In determining any application for leave, the court has a discretion as to the circumstances in which leave should be granted. Section 91A(4) requires the court to consider whether there has been a material change of circumstances since the section 91(14) order was made. In other words, a material change of circumstances is not necessarily required in order for leave to be granted, but the question of whether there has been such a change, is something that the court must consider.

6.5 In determining any application for leave, the court should not ordinarily direct a report to be prepared under section 7 of the 1989 Act, in particular since, if leave were granted and the specified application were made, the court would then consider such a direction if appropriate.

6.6 The court may make an initial determination, without an oral hearing, of the merits of the application for leave. If the court does so, the applicant may, within 7 days of receipt of notice of the court’s decision, request an oral hearing. If the court receives such a request, it must make directions as to service of the application and any other documents on the respondent, including the possibility that the respondent would not be served, and as to any representations or other matters in relation to the oral hearing.