Guidance

Procedure rules and forms for civil proceedings in magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court

Procedures rules and forms not replaced by the Criminal Procedure Rules or the Family Procedure Rules and statutory instruments.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Published: 6 July 2000
• Last updated: 8 April 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England and Wales

Procedure rules and forms

The following sets of procedure rules only contain the rules and forms that have not been replaced by the Criminal Procedure Rules or the Family Procedure Rules:

• Magistrates’ Courts Rules 1981 (PDF, 344 KB, 32 pages)
• Magistrates’ Courts (Forms) Rules 1981 (PDF, 363 KB, 7 pages)
• Application for McKenzie friend in magistrates’ court civil proceedings (ODT, 13.9 KB)
• Crown Court Rules 1982 (PDF, 251 KB, 20 pages)

All the procedure rules were made under section 144 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 and section 84 of the Senior Courts Act 1981.

The following tables display the statutory instruments containing these rules.

Statutory Instruments for magistrates’ courts

Number	Title
SI 2024/254	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2024
SI 2022/523	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2022
SI 2021/626	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021
SI 2021/459	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2021
SI 2020/284	Magistrates’ Courts (Functions of Authorised Persons – Civil Proceedings) Rules 2020
SI 2020/210	Magistrates’ Courts (Knife Crime Prevention Orders) Rules 2020
SI 2019/1369	Magistrates’ Courts (Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005, Part 5B) Rules 2019
SI 2019/1368	Magistrates’ Courts (Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005, Part 5A, and Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2019
SI 2019/1367	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2019
SI 2018/66	Magistrates’ Courts (Immigration Act 2014) (Freezing Orders) Rules 2018
SI 2017/1297	Magistrates’ Courts (Freezing and Forfeiture of Money in Bank and Building Society Accounts) Rules 2017
SI 2017/1296	Magistrates’ Courts (Detention and Forfeiture of Terrorist Assets) Rules 2017
SI 2017/1295	Magistrates’ Courts (Detention and Forfeiture of Terrorist Cash) (Amendment) Rules 2017
SI 2017/1293	Magistrates’ Courts (Detention and Forfeiture of Listed Assets) Rules 2017
SI 2017/1291	Magistrates’ Courts (Detention and Forfeiture of Cash) (Amendment) Rules 2017
SI 2017/1290	Magistrates’ Courts (Freezing and Forfeiture of Terrorist Money in Bank and Building Society Accounts) Rules 2017
SI 2017/1199	Magistrates’ Courts (Adult Protection and Support Orders) Rules 2017
SI 2016/745	Magistrates’ Courts (Forfeiture of Political Donations) (Amendment) Rules 2016
SI 2016/546	Magistrates’ Courts (Psychoactive Substances Act 2016) (Transfer of Proceedings) Rules 2016
SI 2015/1478	Magistrates’ Courts (Modern Slavery Act 2015) Rules 2015
SI 2015/423	Magistrates’ Courts (Injunctions: Anti-Social Behaviour) Rules 2015
SI 2015/421	Magistrates’ Courts (Injunctions: Gang-related Violence) Rules 2015
SI 2012/2563	Magistrates’ Courts (Regulation of Investigatory Powers) Rules 2012
SI 2012/2018	Magistrates’ Courts (Sexual Offences Act 2003) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2012
SI 2012/1275	Magistrates’ Courts (Detention and Forfeiture of Cash) (Amendment) Rules 2012
SI 2011/1434	Magistrates’ Courts (Domestic Violence Protection Order Proceedings) Rules 2011
SI 2010/605	Magistrates’ Courts (Foreign Travel Orders) (Amendment) Rules 2010
SI 2009/3362	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2009
SI 2009/2937	Magistrates’ Courts (Drinking Banning Orders) Rules 2009
SI 2009/2197	Magistrates’ Courts (Violent Offender Orders) Rules 2009
SI 2005/2930	Magistrates’ Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2005
SI 2005/545	Justices’ Clerks Rules 2005
SI 2004/2993	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2004
SI 2004/2419	Magistrates’ Courts (Reports Relating to Adult Witnesses) Rules 2004
SI 2004/1053	Magistrates’ Courts (Risk of Sexual Harm Orders) Rules 2004
SI 2004/1052	Magistrates’ Courts (Notification Orders) Rules 2004
SI 2004/1051	Magistrates’ Courts (Foreign Travel Orders) Rules 2004
SI 2003/1645	Magistrates’ Courts (Forfeiture of Political Donations) Rules 2003
SI 2003/1236	Magistrates’ Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2003
SI 2003/638	Magistrates’ Courts (Detention and Forfeiture of Cash) (Amendment) Rules 2003
SI 2003/423	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2003
SI 2002/2998	Magistrates’ Courts (Detention and Forfeiture of Cash) Rules 2002
SI 2002/2784	Magistrates’ Courts (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders) Rules 2002
SI 2001/4013	Magistrates’ Courts (Detention and Forfeiture of Terrorist Cash) (No 2) Rules 2001
SI 2001/615	Magistrates’ Courts (Transfer of Justices’ Clerks’ Functions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2001
SI 2001/610	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment No 2) Rules 2001
SI 2001/167	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2001
SI 2001/164	Magistrates’ Courts (Civilian Enforcement Officers) Rules 2001
SI 2000/3361	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2000
SI 1999/2765	Magistrates’ Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 1999
SI 1999/681	Magistrates’ Courts (Hearsay Evidence in Civil Proceedings) Rules 1999
SI 1998/2167	Magistrates’ Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 1998
SI 1997/707	Magistrates’ Courts (Forms) (Amendment) Rules 1997
SI 1997/706	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 1997
SI 1995/2619	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) (No 2) Rules 1995
SI 1995/585	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 1995
SI 1994/3154	Magistrates’ Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 1994
SI 1993/1183	Magistrates’ Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 1993
SI 1992/2072	Magistrates’ Courts (Criminal Justice Act 1991) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 1992
SI 1992/2069	Magistrates’ Courts (Attendance Centre) Rules 1992
SI 1992/729	Magistrates’ Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 1992
SI 1991/2096	Magistrates’ Courts (Costs Against Legal Representatives in Civil Proceedings) Rules 1991
SI 1990/2260	Magistrates’ Courts (Civilian Enforcement Officers) Rules 1990
SI 1990/1190	Magistrates’ Courts (Civilian Fine Enforcement Officers) Rules 1990
SI 1990/336	Magistrates’ Courts (Witnesses’ Addresses) Rules 1990
SI 1989/1597	Magistrates’ Courts (Extradition) Rules 1989
SI 1989/300	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 1989
SI 1988/2132	Magistrates’ Courts (Criminal Justice Act 1988) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 1988
SI 1986/1333	Magistrates’ Courts (Forms) (Amendment) Rules 1986
SI 1986/1332	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 1986
SI 1985/1945	Magistrates’ Courts (Forms) (Amendment) Rules 1985
SI 1985/1944	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 1985
SI 1984/1552	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 1984
SI 1983/524	Magistrates’ Courts (Forms) (Amendment) Rules 1983
SI 1983/523	Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 1983
SI 1981/553	Magistrates’ Courts (Forms) Rules 1981
SI 1981/552	Magistrates’ Courts Rules 1981

Statutory Instruments for Crown Court

Number	Title
SI 2024/259	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 2024
SI 2017/1287	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 2017
SI 2009/3361	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 2009
SI 2004/2991	Crown Court (Amendment No 3) Rules 2004
SI 2004/1292	Crown Court (Amendment No 2) Rules 2004
SI 2004/1047	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 2004
SI 2003/1664	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 3) Rules 2003
SI 2003/1646	Crown Court (Forfeiture of Political Donations) Rules 2003
SI 2003/639	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 2) Rules 2003
SI 2003/422	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 2003
SI 2002/2997	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 2) Rules 2002
SI 2002/2783	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 2002
SI 2001/4012	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 3) Rules 2001
SI 2001/614	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 2001
SI 2001/193	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 2001
SI 2000/3362	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 3) Rules 2000
SI 2000/2987	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 2) Rules 2000
SI 2000/2093	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 2000
SI 1999/3040	Crown Court (Forms Amendment) Rules 1999
SI 1999/2838	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 1999
SI 1999/598	Crown Court (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 1999
SI 1998/2168	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 1998
SI 1997/701	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 1997
SI 1995/2618	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 1995
SI 1994/3153	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 2) Rules 1994
SI 1991/1288	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 1991
SI 1990/2157	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 1990
SI 1989/1103	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 2) Rules 1989
SI 1988/2131	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 4) Rules 1988
SI 1988/1635	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 3) Rules 1988
SI 1988/1322	Crown Court (Amendment) (No 2) Rules 1988
SI 1988/952	Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 1988
SI 1982/1109	Crown Court Rules 1982

Statutory Instruments for rules that have no effect

Although some rules have not been revoked or amended explicitly, they have now been superseded completely by the Family Procedure Rules 2010 and later amendments. The following table lists rules that have no effect.

name	colour
SI 1974/706	Magistrates’ Courts (Guardianship of Minors) Rules 1974
SI 1986/1141	Magistrates’ Courts (Child Abduction and Custody) Rules 1986
SI 1986/1962	Magistrates’ Courts (Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982) Rules 1986
SI 1990/1909	Magistrates’ Courts (Social Security Act 1986) (Transfer of Orders to Maintain and Enforcement of Maintenance Orders) Rules 1990
SI 1992/457	Magistrates’ Courts (Maintenance Enforcement Act 1991) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 1992
SI 1992/2071	Magistrates’ Courts (Children and Young Persons) Rules 1992
SI 1993/627	Family Proceedings Courts (Child Support Act 1991) Rules 1993
SI 1999/1343	Magistrates’ Courts (Children and Young Persons) (Amendment) Rules 1999
SI 2000/1875	Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) (Amendment) Rules 2000
SI 2001/778	Family Proceedings Courts (Family Law Act 1986) Rules 2001
SI 2001/818	Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment) Rules 2001
SI 2003/2840	Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment) Rules 2003
SI 2004/247	Magistrates’ Courts (Parenting Orders) Rules 2004
SI 2004/3376	Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment) Rules 2004
SI 2005/229	Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment) Rules 2005
SI 2005/413	Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment No 2) Rules 2005
SI 2005/585	Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment No 3) Rules 2005
SI 2005/1977	Family Proceedings Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2005
SI 2007/2188	Family Proceedings Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2007
SI 2007/2222	Magistrates’ Courts (Parenting Orders) (Amendment) Rules 2007
SI 2007/2267	Magistrates’ Courts (Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders) (Miscellaneous Amendment) Rules 2007
SI 2008/2858	Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment) Rules 2008
SI 2008/2859	Magistrates’ Courts (Enforcement of Children Act 1989 Contact Orders) Rules 2008
SI 2009/637	Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment) Rules 2009
SI 2009/858	Family Proceedings Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2009
SI 2009/2025	Family Proceedings Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No 2) Rules 2009
SI 2010/787	Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment) Rules 2010
SI 2010/1065	Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment) (No 2) Rules 2010

Published 6 July 2000
Last updated 8 April 2024 + show all updates

1. 8 April 2024

   Application for McKenzie friend in magistrates’ court civil proceedings published and Magistrates’ Courts Rules 1981, Crown Court Rules 1982 updated.

2. 17 November 2023

   Magistrates’ Courts Rules 1981 updated.

3. 20 June 2022

   Magistrates’ Courts Rules 1981 updated.

4. 6 July 2000

   First published.