Guidance

Practice Direction update 1 (2021): Family Procedure Rules 2010

Changes to Practice Directions 12D, 17A, 36Q and 36R come into force in February 2021, and changes to Practice Directions 10A, 12K, 41B come into force in March 2021.

• From: Family Procedure Rule Committee and Ministry of Justice
• Published: 19 February 2021

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

PD update 1 of 2021

PDF, 140 KB, 4 pages

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Details

The following changes come into force on 15 February 2021.

Practice Direction	Details
12D	Reflects the decision of the Supreme Court in a case relating to proceedings under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court.
17A	Confirms that any document requiring a statement of truth that is not a standard form can bear an electronic signature.
36Q and 36R	Changes the expiry date from 31 March 2021 to 31 October 2021, in light of the continuing need for the measures enabled by these Practice Directions in response to the Covid 19 pandemic.

The following change come into force on 1 March 2021.

Practice Direction	Details
41B	Makes provision for legal representatives of respondents to use the online system for making consent applications for a financial remedy associated with divorce proceedings.

The following change comes into effect on 31 March 2021.

Practice Direction	Details
10A and 12K	Makes permanent the recently piloted removal of requirements to make certain announcements in open court. These amendments will come into force at the point at which the PD36S provisions cease to have effect (31st March 2021).

Published 19 February 2021