Guidance

Appointment of Official Solicitor in family proceedings: practice note

Guidance for solicitors about appointing the Official Solicitor as litigation friend for someone lacking the capacity to conduct family proceedings.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

The Official Solicitor to the Senior Courts: Appointment in Family Proceedings and Proceedings under the Inherent Jurisdiction in Relation to Adults

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Details

This practice note for solicitors contains information about:

  • appointing the Official Solicitor as litigation friend of a child in family proceedings or a protected party

  • requests from the court for the Official Solicitor to conduct Harbin v Masterman enquiries

  • requests from the court for the Official Solicitor to act as, or appoint counsel to act as, an advocate to the court

Updates to this page

Published 1 March 2013
Last updated 17 May 2023 + show all updates
  1. Contact details for the Official Solicitor have been updated in the document.

  2. Updated practice note

  3. First published.

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