The Family Procedure Rules 2010

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Rules applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2018/1125 reg. 8 (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.I. 2018/1125, reg. 8 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Act 2020 (c. 24), s. 4(3), Sch. 5 para. 4(4))
rule 3.10(1)(1A) substituted for rule 3.10(1) by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 14(b)
rule 3.4(1)(1A) substituted for rule 3.4(1) by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 7(b)
rule 3.8(1)(c)(ii)(ad) words substituted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(c)
rule 3.8(1)(k)(ai) inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(g)(i)
rule 3.8(1)(k)(i) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(g)(ii)(bb)
rule 3.8(1)(k)(i) words omitted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(g)(ii)(aa)
rule 3.8(1)(k)(iii) word substituted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(g)(iv)(aa)
rule 3.8(1)(k)(iii) word substituted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(g)(iv)(cc)
rule 3.8(1)(k)(iii) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(g)(iv)(bb)
rule 3.8(1)(k)(iii) words omitted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(g)(iv)(dd)
rule 3.8(1)(k)(ii) word substituted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(g)(iii)
rule 3.8(1)(l) words omitted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(h)(i)
rule 3.8(1)(l) words substituted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(h)(ii)
rule 3.8(1)(l)(i) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(h)(iii)(bb)
rule 3.8(1)(l)(i) words substituted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(h)(iii)(aa)
rule 3.8(1)(m) omitted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(i)
rule 3.8(1)(n) words omitted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(j)
rule 3.8(1)(o)(ai) inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(k)(i)
rule 3.8(1)(o)(i) word substituted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(k)(ii)
rule 3.8(1)(o)(ii) word substituted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(k)(iii)(aa)
rule 3.8(1)(o)(ii) word substituted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(k)(iii)(cc)
rule 3.8(1)(o)(ii) words inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(k)(iii)(bb)
rule 3.8(1)(o)(ii) words omitted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(k)(iii)(dd)
rule 3.8(1)(p) substituted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 11(l)
rule 3.3(1A) inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 6(a)
rule 3.4(2)-(2B) substituted for rule 3.4(2) by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 7(c)
rule 3.9(2)(e)(f) inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 13(d)
rule 3.10(3)(ba) inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 14(d)(i)
rule 3.10(3)(ca) inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 14(d)(iii)
rule 28.3(7)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2023/1324 rule 19

CHAPTER 1E+WINTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THIS PART

Application of this PartE+W

12.1.—(1) The rules in this Part apply to—

(a)emergency proceedings;

(b)private law proceedings;

(c)public law proceedings;

(d)proceedings relating to the exercise of the court's inherent jurisdiction (other than applications for the court's permission to start such proceedings);

(e)proceedings relating to child abduction and the recognition and enforcement of decisions relating to custody under the European Convention;

(f)proceedings relating to F1... the 1996 Hague Convention in respect of children; and

(g)any other proceedings which may be referred to in a practice direction.

(Part 18 sets out the procedure for making an application for permission to bring proceedings.) (Part 31 sets out the procedure for making applications for recognition and enforcement of judgments under F2... the 1996 Hague Convention.)

(2) The rules in Chapter 7 of this Part also apply to family proceedings which are not within paragraph (1) but which otherwise relate wholly or mainly to the maintenance or upbringing of a minor.

[F3(3) This Part is subject to any provision made by or pursuant to Part 41 (proceeding by electronic means).]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in rule 12.1(1)(f) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Family Procedure Rules 2010 and Court of Protection Rules 2017 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/517), regs. 1(1), 9(2)(a) (with reg. 23) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 8(2)(b)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F2Words in rule 12.1(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Family Procedure Rules 2010 and Court of Protection Rules 2017 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/517), regs. 1(1), 9(2)(b) (with reg. 23) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 8(2)(b)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3Rule 12.1(3) inserted (6.4.2020) by The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2020 (S.I. 2020/135), rules 1, 15

InterpretationE+W

12.2. In this Part—

“the 2006 Act” means the Childcare Act 2006 M1;

[F4“activity condition” has the meaning given to it by section 11C(2) of the 1989 Act;”]

[F4“activity direction” has the meaning given to it by section 11A(3) of the 1989 Act;]

“advocate” means a person exercising a right of audience as a representative of, or on behalf of, a party;

“care proceedings” means proceedings for a care order under section 31(1)(a) of the 1989 Act;

[F5“Case Management Order” means an order in the form referred to in Practice Direction 12A;]

“child assessment order” has the meaning assigned to it by section 43(2) of the 1989 Act;

F6...

“contribution order” has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph 23(2) of Schedule 2 to the 1989 Act;

“education supervision order” has the meaning assigned to it by section 36(2) of the 1989 Act;

“emergency proceedings” means proceedings for—

(a)

the disclosure of information as to the whereabouts of a child under section 33 of the 1986 Act M2;

(b)

an order authorising the taking charge of and delivery of a child under section 34 of the 1986 Act M3;

(c)

an emergency protection order;

(d)

an order under section 44(9)(b) of the 1989 Act varying a direction in an emergency protection order given under section 44(6) of that Act;

(e)

an order under section 45(5) of the 1989 Act extending the period during which an emergency protection order is to have effect;

(f)

an order under section 45(8) of the 1989 Act discharging an emergency protection order;

(g)

an order under section 45(8A) of the 1989 M4 Act varying or discharging an emergency protection order in so far as it imposes an exclusion requirement on a person who is not entitled to apply for the order to be discharged;

(h)

an order under section 45(8B) of the 1989 Act M5 varying or discharging an emergency protection order in so far as it confers a power of arrest attached to an exclusion requirement;

(i)

warrants under sections 48(9) and 102(1) of the 1989 Act and under section 79 of the 2006 Act M6; or

(j)

a recovery order under section 50 of the 1989 Act M7;

“emergency protection order” means an order under section 44 of the 1989 Act;

“enforcement order” has the meaning assigned to it by section 11J(2) of the 1989 Act;

“financial compensation order” means an order made under section 11O(2) of the 1989 Act;

“interim order” means an interim care order or an interim supervision order referred to in section 38(1) of the 1989 Act;

[F7“Part 4 proceedings” means proceedings for—

(a)

a care order, or the discharge of such an order, under section 39(1) of the 1989 Act;

(b)

an order giving permission to change a child’s surname or remove a child from the United Kingdom under section 33(7) of the 1989 Act;

(c)

a supervision order, the discharge or variation of such an order under section 39(2) of the 1989 Act, or the extension of such an order under paragraph 6(3) of Schedule 3 to that Act;

(d)

an order making provision regarding contact under section 34(2) to (4) of the 1989 Act or an order varying or discharging such an order under section 34(9) of that Act;

(e)

an education supervision order, the extension of an education supervision order under paragraph 15(2) of Schedule 3 to the 1989 Act, or the discharge of such an order under paragraph 17(1) of Schedule 3 to that Act;

(f)

an order varying directions made with an interim care order or interim supervision order under section 38(8)(b) of the 1989 Act;

(g)

an order under section 39(3) of the 1989 Act varying a supervision order in so far as it affects a person with whom the child is living but who is not entitled to apply for the order to be discharged;

(h)

an order under section 39(3A) of the 1989 Act varying or discharging an interim care order in so far as it imposes an exclusion requirement on a person who is not entitled to apply for the order to be discharged;

(i)

an order under section 39(3B) of the 1989 Act varying or discharging an interim care order in so far as it confers a power of arrest attached to an exclusion requirement; or

(j)

the substitution of a supervision order for a care order under section 39(4) of the 1989 Act;]

“private law proceedings” means proceedings for—

(a)

[F8a section 8 order except a child arrangements order to which section 9(6B) of the 1989 Act applies with respect to a child who is in the care of a local authority;]

(b)

a parental responsibility order under sections 4(1)(c) M8, 4ZA(1)(c) M9 or 4A(1)(b) of the 1989 Act M10 or an order terminating parental responsibility under sections 4(2A), 4ZA(5) or 4A(3) of that Act;

(c)

an order appointing a child's guardian under section 5(1) of the 1989 Act or an order terminating the appointment under section 6(7) of that Act;

(d)

an order giving permission to change a child's surname or remove a child from the United Kingdom under sections 13(1) or 14C(3) of the 1989 Act;

(e)

a special guardianship order except where that order relates to a child who is subject of a care order;

(f)

an order varying or discharging such an order under section 14D of the 1989 Act M11;

(g)

an enforcement order;

(h)

a financial compensation order;

(i)

an order under paragraph 9 of Schedule A1 to the 1989 Act following a breach of an enforcement order;

(j)

an order under Part 2 of Schedule A1 to the 1989 Act revoking or amending an enforcement order; or

(k)

an order that a warning notice be attached to a [F9child arrangements order];

“public law proceedings” means [F10Part 4 proceedings and] proceedings for—

(a)

[F11a child arrangements order to which section 9(6B) of the 1989 Act applies with respect to a child who is in the care of a local authority;]

(b)

a special guardianship order relating to a child who is the subject of a care order;

(c)

a secure accommodation order under section 25 of the 1989 Act M12;

(d)

F12...

(n)

a child assessment order, or the variation or discharge of such an order under section 43(12) of the 1989 Act;

(o)

an order permitting the local authority to arrange for any child in its care to live outside England and Wales under paragraph 19(1) of Schedule 2 to the 1989 Act;

(p)

a contribution order, or revocation of such an order under paragraph 23(8) of Schedule 2 to the 1989 Act;

(q)

an appeal under paragraph 8(1) of Schedule 8 to the 1989 Act;

“special guardianship order” has the meaning assigned to it by section 14A(1) of the 1989 Act M13;

“supervision order” has the meaning assigned to it by section 31(11) of the 1989 Act;

“supervision proceedings” means proceedings for a supervision order under section 31(1)(b) of the 1989 Act;

“warning notice” means a notice attached to an order pursuant to section 8(2) of the Children and Adoption Act 2006.

(The 1980 Hague Convention, the 1996 Hague Convention, the Council Regulation, and the European Convention are defined in rule 2.3.)

Textual Amendments

F4Words in rule 12.2 inserted (22.4.2014) by The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/843), rules 1, 15(a)

F5Words in rule 12.2 substituted (22.4.2014) by The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/843), rules 1, 15(b)

F6Words in rule 12.2 omitted (22.4.2014) by virtue of The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/843), rules 1, 15(c)

F7Words in rule 12.2 inserted (22.4.2014) by The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/843), rules 1, 15(d)

F8Words in rule 12.2 substituted (22.4.2014) by The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/843), rules 1, 15(e)(i)

F9Words in rule 12.2 substituted (22.4.2014) by The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/843), rules 1, 15(e)(ii)

F10Words in rule 12.2 inserted (22.4.2014) by The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/843), rules 1, 15(f)(i)

F11Words in rule 12.2 substituted (22.4.2014) by The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/843), rules 1, 15(f)(ii)

F12Words in rule 12.2 omitted (22.4.2014) by virtue of The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/843), rules 1, 15(f)(iii)

Marginal Citations

M12006 c.21.

M2Section 33 was amended by section 108(5) of and paragraph 62 of Schedule 13 to the Children Act 1989 and section 261(1) of and paragraph 124 of Schedule 27 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

M3Section 34 was amended by section 108(5) of and paragraphs 62 and 70 of Schedule 13 to the Children Act 1989 and article 12(3) of Children (Northern Ireland Consequential Amendments) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/756).

M4Section 45(8A) was inserted by section 52 of and paragraph 4 of Schedule 6 to the Family Law Act 1996.

M5Section 45(8B) was inserted by section 52 of and paragraph 4 of Schedule 6 to the Family Law Act 1996.

M6Section 79 was amended by section 157 of and paragraphs 108 and 114(1) and (2) and (3)(b) of Schedule 14 to the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c.40).

M7Section 50 was amended by section 261(1) of and paragraph 131 of Schedule 27 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

M8Section 4(1)(c) was amended by section 111(1) and (2) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and section 56 of and paragraphs 21(1) and (2) of Schedule 6 to the Welfare Reform Act 2009 (c.29).

M9Section 4ZA was inserted by section 56 of and paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008.

M10Section 4A(1)(b) was amended by section 75(1) and (2) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

M11Section 14D was inserted by section 115(1) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002.

M12Section 25 was amended by section 39 of and paragraphs 1 and 15 of Schedule 3 to the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 and section 24 of and paragraph 45 of Schedule 4 to the Access to Justice Act 1999.

M13Section 14A(1) was inserted by section 115(1) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002.

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