Notice

Pilot Practice Directions - July 2020 update

Changes to pilot Practice Directions 36H, 36O, 36P, 36U, 36M and 36N come into force in July, August and September 2020.

• From: Family Procedure Rule Committee and Ministry of Justice
• Published: 20 July 2020

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

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Details

The following amendments or replacements have been made.

Practice Direction	Details
Pilot Practice Direction 36H (Pilot Scheme: Procedure for service of certain protection orders on the police)	This update extends the expiry date for the pilot project for three months to 30 October 2020.
Pilot Practice Direction 36O (Pilot Scheme: Procedure for bulk scanning of certain documents)	This update corrects a reference to a defined term within the FPR 2010. An original reference to the defined term “filed” is amended to refer to “filing”.
Pilot Practice Direction 36P (Pilot Scheme: Placement proceedings: Procedure for specified steps to be taken via the online system)	This update corrects a reference to a defined term within the FPR 2010. An original reference to the defined term “filed” is amended to refer to “filing”.

These changes take effect from 25 July 2020.

Practice Direction

Details

Insertion of new pilot Practice Direction 36U (Pilot Provision: Service and notification of applications and orders under Part 4 of the Family Law Act 1996)

The new pilot Practice Direction introduces a temporary modification to Part 10 FPR (Applications under Part 4 Family Law Act 1996) to expressly provide for courts to direct another method for service of applications and orders for Part 4 Family Law Act orders, other than personal service. The insertion of this pilot Practice Direction takes into effect the impact of coronavirus on limiting the availability of court bailiffs to effect personal service of applications and orders in line with Part 10 FPR. A minor modification to r10.10 FPR is also made, to make clear that the police should be notified of an order once the respondent has been informed of its terms. This pilot Practice Direction will cease to have effect on 3 May 2021.

These changes take effect from 3 August 2020.

Practice Direction

Details

Pilot Practice Direction 36M (Pilot Scheme: Procedure for using an online system to generate, file and continue applications in certain public law proceedings relating to children)

This pilot Practice Direction originally came into force on 31 January 2019 to allow for certain applications and stages in certain public law proceedings to be completed using an online system. This latest update extends the applications and stages in public law proceedings which can be completed using the online system to potentially include applications for any “public law proceedings” or “emergency proceedings”, as defined in the FPR 2010, and to applications for secure accommodation orders made under section 119 of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014. This update also clarifies which users may access the online system for different purposes, and extends the current pilot expiry date to 30 April 2021.

These changes take effect from 30 August 2020.

Practice Direction	Details
Pilot Practice Direction 36N (Pilot Scheme: Procedure for online filing and progression of certain applications for a financial remedy in connection with certain proceedings for a matrimonial order)	The update extends the pilot to cover all applications submitted on or before 30 September 2021, a 12-month extension from the current expiry date.

These changes take effect from 29 September 2020.

Published 20 July 2020