Guidance and regulation

Find out if you are eligible for the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme and how to apply.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Updated: 7 April 2021

This guidance outlines options to consider and who to contact if your child has been taken or kept abroad by their other parent or a relative without your permission.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
• Updated: 31 August 2022

Find out more about our reform programme, including how to stay updated on progress.

• From: HM Courts & Tribunals Service
• Updated: 23 February 2024

Overview and registration information for qualified legal representatives under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Updated: 29 November 2023

Fact sheets on our progress in the family jurisdiction.

• From: HM Courts & Tribunals Service
• Updated: 17 April 2024

Guidance for people involved in UK-EU cross-border divorces.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Updated: 12 January 2021

Professional and public user groups working with us on aspects of the HMCTS Reform Programme, including collaboration on new development proposals.

• From: HM Courts & Tribunals Service
• Updated: 29 February 2024

Amendments to Practice Direction 30A, 36U and 41B come into force on 3, 24 and 31 May 2021.

• From: Family Procedure Rule Committee and 1 others
• Updated: 11 May 2021

Public information materials for organisations that support separating families, including the mediation sector and advice organisations.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Updated: 5 February 2016

Guidance to support the publication of Family Court Statistics Quarterly

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Updated: 28 March 2019

Get a flyer to support the Office of the Public Guardian's Your Voice, Your Decision campaign.

• From: Office of the Public Guardian
• Updated: 28 July 2023

Guidance for people involved in UK-EU cross-border maintenance disputes.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Updated: 12 January 2021

Internal staff guidance sets out how certain court-ordered measures including intermediaries and intermediary assessments may be paid for in family cases.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Updated: 13 February 2018

Guidance for people involved in UK-EU cross-border disputes about parental responsibility.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Updated: 12 January 2021

This new pilot Practice Direction 36V reflects the existence of the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, launching 26 March 2021.

• From: Family Procedure Rule Committee and 1 others
• Updated: 26 March 2021

Pilot Practice Direction 36W brings in new provision for communicating forced marriage and female genital mutilation protection orders to the police. It came into force on 26 April 2021.

• From: Family Procedure Rule Committee and 1 others
• Updated: 29 April 2021

Information for local authorities on how to submit an application to take part in the designated family judge trailblazer pilot.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 7 December 2023

Guidance to provide assistance to applicants, guardians, organisations and courts when dealing with the affairs of missing people.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Updated: 28 June 2019