Guidance

Practice Direction update 118: extension of time limits

Practice Direction update to the Civil Procedure Rules relating to new Practice Direction 51ZA extension of time limits and clarification of PD 51Y.

• From: Civil Procedure Rule Committee and Ministry of Justice
• Published: 1 April 2020

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Practice Direction update 118

PDF, 198 KB, 2 pages

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Details

The Master of the Rolls and the Lord Chancellor have signed Practice Direction 51ZA principally in relation to the extension of time limits during the coronavirus pandemic.

The PD is effective from 2 April 2020.

The main changes effected by this PD are:

• it allows the parties to agree an extension up to 56 days without formally notifying the court (rather than the current 28 days), so long as that does not put a hearing date at risk
• any extension of more than 56 days needs to be agreed by the court
• the court is required to take into account the impact of the pandemic in considering such applications, as well as applications for adjournment and relief from sanction
• the PD also clarifies the audio and video hearing PD 51Y (the 116th PD update) by making clear that a person seeking permission to listen to or view a recording of a hearing may do so by request and is not required to make a formal application under the CPR
• the PD ceases to have effect on 30 October 2020

The position will remain under review.

For the avoidance of doubt, this PD does not change the operation of the provisions of PD 51Z (set out under the 117th PD update on 27 March 2020) which provides for the 90 days stay concerning possession proceedings.

Published 1 April 2020