Family justice system

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Services

• Apply for a non-molestation or occupation order: Form FL401

  Ask the court to make an order protecting you and any relevant child from abuse or harassment by a named person, or to prevent them living in your home.

• Litigation friend referral form for family proceedings (other than Children Act public law cases)

  Form for solicitors to provide additional information about a child party or protected party, if the Official Solicitor is asked to be a litigation friend.

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Guidance and regulation

• Family Mediation Voucher Scheme
  • Detailed guide
  • 7 April 2021
  • Ministry of Justice
• International parental child abduction
  • Detailed guide
  • 31 August 2022
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
• Romania: parental child abduction
  • Detailed guide
  • 11 July 2025
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
• Registration for cross-examination work in family and civil proceedings (Qualified Legal Representative Scheme)
  • Detailed guide
  • 5 June 2024
  • Ministry of Justice
• HM Courts and Tribunals Service engagement groups
  • Detailed guide
  • 20 March 2025
  • HM Courts & Tribunals Service

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News and communications

• From paper to digital: bringing more peace of mind to separating couples
  • 24 March 2025
  • HM Courts & Tribunals Service
  • Case study
• Thousands of children to be supported thanks to multi-million expansion of innovation in family courts
  • 3 February 2025
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Press release
• Legal adviser member appointed to the Family Procedure Rule Committee
  • 30 September 2024
  • Ministry of Justice and Family Procedure Rule Committee
  • News story
• Faster resolution for small claims as mediation baked into courts process
  • 22 May 2024
  • Ministry of Justice and HM Courts & Tribunals Service
  • Press release
• Child rapists to automatically have parental responsibility stripped
  • 10 May 2024
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Press release

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Research and statistics

• Family Court Statistics Quarterly: January to March 2025
  • 26 June 2025
  • Ministry of Justice
  • National statistics
• Family Court Statistics Quarterly: October to December 2024
  • 7 April 2025
  • Ministry of Justice
  • National statistics
• Private Law Pathfinder Pilot: process evaluation and financial analysis
  • 27 March 2025
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Research
• Pathfinder Pilot Ad Hoc Management Information
  • 3 February 2025
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Research
• Family Court Statistics Quarterly: July to September 2024
  • 19 December 2024
  • Ministry of Justice
  • National statistics

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Policy papers and consultations

• Limitation law in child sexual abuse cases
  • 5 February 2025
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 11 July 2024
• New draft Practice Direction 27A
  • 12 September 2024
  • Family Procedure Rule Committee
  • Closed consultation
  • Date closed 22 October 2024
• Supporting earlier resolution of private family law arrangements
  • 12 February 2024
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 16 June 2023
• Increasing the use of mediation in the civil justice system
  • 20 December 2023
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 05 October 2022
• Private Law Pathfinder delivery update
  • 27 March 2025
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Policy paper

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Transparency and freedom of information releases

• Strategic Engagement Group Meeting Chair’s Summary - September 2021
  • 12 October 2021
  • HM Courts & Tribunals Service
  • Transparency
• Cafcass annual report and accounts 2014 to 2015
  • 15 July 2015
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Corporate report
• Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service annual report and accounts 2013 to 2014
  • 18 August 2014
  • Cafcass
  • Corporate report
• Family Justice Board action plan
  • 24 January 2013
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Corporate report
• Operation of the Family Courts: Government Response
  • 13 October 2011
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Corporate report

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Organisations

• Ministry of Justice
• Department for Education
• HM Courts & Tribunals Service
• Family Procedure Rule Committee
• Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Show more organisations

• HM Prison & Probation Service
• Home Office
• Office of the Public Guardian
• Official Solicitor and Public Trustee
• Legal Aid Agency

• Ofsted