Guidance

Family Procedure Rules 2010 Practice Directions - May 2020 update

The new Practice Direction (36R) supplementing the Family Procedure Rules 2010 changes Practice Directions 2C and 5B. It comes into force in May 2020.

• From: Family Procedure Rule Committee and Ministry of Justice
• Published: 7 May 2020

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

PD Making document - May 2020

PDF, 340 KB, 3 pages

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Details

The Practice Direction 36R made the following amendments.

Practice Direction	Details
Practice Direction 2C (Justices’ legal advisers)	This modification makes it permissible for justices’ legal advisers to fulfil five functions currently reserved to the judiciary. These five functions are the ability to consider the making of certain participation directions to improve the participation of vulnerable parties and/or witnesses; seeking disclosure of addresses from other government departments; making agreed Child Arrangement Orders, subject to certain restrictions; making contact activity directions or conditions; and decisions on party status.
Practice Direction 5B (Communication and filing of documents by email)	This modification enables Local Authorities, adoption agencies, Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru, or their legal representatives, to email documents relating to adoption proceedings.

The new Practice Direction comes into force on 8 May 2020.

Published 7 May 2020