The Family Proceedings Rules 1991

  1. Introductory Text

  2. PART I PRELIMINARY

    1. 1.1.Citation and commencement

    2. 1.2.Interpretation

    3. 1.3.Application of other rules

    4. 1.4.County court proceedings in principal registry

    5. 1.5.Computation of time

  3. PART II MATRIMONIAL CAUSES

    1. 2.1.Application of Part II

    2. Commencement etc of proceedings

      1. 2.2.Cause to be begun by petition

      2. 2.3.Contents of petition

      3. 2.4.Petitioner relying on section 11 or 12 of the Civil Evidence Act 1968

      4. 2.5.Signing of petition

      5. 2.6.Presentation of petition

      6. 2.7.Parties

      7. 2.8.Discontinuance of cause before service of petition

    3. Service of petition etc

      1. 2.9.Service of petition

      2. 2.10.Consent to grant of decree

    4. Pleadings and amendment

      1. 2.11.Supplemental petition and amendment of petition

      2. 2.12.Filing of answer to petition

      3. 2.13.Filing of reply and subsequent pleadings

      4. 2.14.Filing and amendment of pleadings after directions for trial

      5. 2.15.Contents of answer and subsequent pleadings

      6. 2.16.Allegation against third person in pleading

      7. 2.17.Service of pleadings

      8. 2.18.Supplemental answer and amendment of pleadings

      9. 2.19.Particulars

    5. Preparations for trial

      1. 2.20.Discovery of documents in defended cause

      2. 2.21.Discovery by interrogatories in defended cause

      3. 2.22.Medical examination in proceedings for nullity

      4. 2.23.Conduct of medical examination

      5. 2.24.Directions for trial

      6. 2.25.Determination of place of trial

      7. 2.26.Directions as to allegations under section 1(2)(b) of Act of 1973

      8. 2.27.Stay under Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973

    6. Evidence

      1. 2.28.Evidence at trial of cause

      2. 2.29.Evidence by deposition

      3. 2.30.Issue of witness summons or subpoena

      4. 2.31.Hearsay and expert evidence in High Court

    7. Trial etc

      1. 2.32.Mode and place of trial

      2. 2.33.Trial of issue

      3. 2.34.Exercise of district judge’s jurisdiction in causes set down for trial

      4. 2.35.Further provisions as to date of trial

      5. 2.36.Disposal of causes in special procedure list

      6. 2.37.Right to be heard on question of costs

      7. 2.38.Respondent’s statement as to arrangements for children

      8. 2.39.Procedure for complying with section 41 of Act of 1973

      9. 2.40.Applications relating to children of the family

      10. 2.41.Restoration of matters adjourned at the hearing

      11. 2.42.Application for re-hearing

    8. Decrees and orders

      1. 2.43.Decrees and orders

      2. 2.44.Application for rescission of decree

      3. 2.45.Application under section 10(2) of Act of 1973

      4. 2.46.Intervention to show cause by Queen’s Proctor

      5. 2.47.Intervention to show cause by person other than Queen’s Proctor

      6. 2.48.Rescission of decree nisi by consent

      7. 2.49.Decree absolute on lodging notice

      8. 2.50.Decree absolute on application

      9. 2.51.Indorsement and certificate of decree absolute

    9. Ancillary relief

      1. 2.52.Right to be heard on ancillary questions

      2. 2.53.Application by petitioner or respondent for ancillary relief

      3. 2.54.Application by parent, guardian etc for ancillary relief in respect of children

      4. 2.55.Application in Form Mll or M12

      5. 2.56.Application for ancillary relief after order of magistrates' court

      6. 2.57.Children to be separately represented on certain applications

      7. 2.58.General provisions as to evidence etc on application for ancillary relief

      8. 2.59.Evidence on application for property adjustment or avoidance of disposition order

      9. 2.60.Service of affidavit in answer or reply

      10. 2.61.Information on application for consent order for financial relief

      11. 2.62.Investigation by district judge of application for ancillary relief

      12. 2.63.Request for further information etc

      13. 2.64.Order on application for ancillary relief

      14. 2.65.Reference of application to judge

      15. 2.66.Arrangements for hearing of application etc by judge

      16. 2.67.Request for periodical payments order at same rate as order for maintenance pending suit

      17. 2.68.Application for order under section 37(2)(a) of Act of 1973

  4. PART III OTHER MATRIMONIAL ETC PROCEEDINGS

    1. 3.1.Application in case of failure to provide reasonable maintenance

    2. 3.2.Application for alteration of maintenance agreement during lifetime of parties

    3. 3.3.Application for alteration of maintenance agreement after death of one party

    4. 3.4.Further proceedings on application under rule 3.3

    5. 3.5.Application of other rules to proceedings under section 35 or 36 of Act of 1973

    6. 3.6.Married Women’s Property Act 1882

    7. 3.7.Exercise in principal registry of county court jurisdiction under section 17 of Married Women’s Property Act 1882

    8. 3.8.Proceedings under sections 1 and 9 of and Schedule 1 to Matrimonial Homes Act 1983

    9. 3.9.Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976

    10. 3.10.Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978

    11. 3.11.Proceedings in respect of polygamous marriage

    12. 3.12.Application under section 55 of Act of 1986 for declaration as to marital status

    13. 3.13.Application under section 56(1)(a) of Act of 1986 for declaration of parentage

    14. 3.14.Application under section 56(1)(b) and (2) of Act of 1986 for declaration of legitimacy or legitimation

    15. 3.15.Application under section 57 of Act of 1986 for declaration as to adoption effected overseas

    16. 3.16.General provisions as to proceedings under rules 3.12, 3.13, 3.14 and 3.15

    17. 3.17.Application for leave under section 13 of Act of 1984

    18. 3.18.Application for order for financial relief or avoidance of transaction order under Part III of Act of 1984

    19. 3.19.Application for order under section 24 of Act of 1984 preventing transaction

    20. 3.20.Consent to marriage of minor

  5. PART IV PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE CHILDREN ACT 1989

    1. 4.1.Interpretation and application

    2. 4.2.Matters prescribed for the purposes of the Act of 1989

    3. 4.3.Application for leave to commence proceedings

    4. 4.4.Application

    5. 4.5.Withdrawal of application

    6. 4.6.Transfer from magistrates' court to county court and from county court to High Court

    7. 4.7.Parties

    8. 4.8.Service

    9. 4.9.Answer to application

    10. 4.10.Appointment of guardian ad litem

    11. 4.11.Powers and duties of guardian ad litem

    12. 4.12.Solicitor for child

    13. 4.13.Welfare officer

    14. 4.14.Directions

    15. 4.15.Timing of proceedings

    16. 4.16.Attendance at directions appointment and hearing

    17. 4.17.Documentary evidence

    18. 4.18.Expert evidence—examination of child

    19. 4.19.Amendment

    20. 4.20.Oral evidence

    21. 4.21.Hearing

    22. 4.22.Appeals

    23. 4.23.Confidentiality of documents

    24. 4.24.Notification of consent

    25. 4.25.Secure accommodation—evidence

    26. 4.26.Investigation under section 37

    27. 4.27.Direction to local education authority to apply for education supervision order

    28. 4.28.Transitional provision

  6. PART V WARDSHIP

    1. 5.1.Application to make a minor a ward of court

    2. 5.2.Enforcement of order by tipstaff

    3. 5.3.Where minor ceases to be a ward of court

    4. 5.4.Adoption of minor who is a ward of court

  7. PART VI CHILD ABDUCTION AND CUSTODY ACT 1985

    1. 6.1.Interpretation

    2. 6.2.Mode of application

    3. 6.3.Contents of originating summons: general provisions

    4. 6.4.Contents of originating summons: particular provisions

    5. 6.5.Defendants

    6. 6.6.Acknowledgement of service

    7. 6.7.Evidence

    8. 6.8.Hearing

    9. 6.9.Dispensing with service

    10. 6.10.Adjournment of summons

    11. 6.11.Stay of proceedings

    12. 6.12.Transfer of proceedings

    13. 6.13.Interim directions

    14. 6.14.Obtaining authenticated copies of decisions

    15. 6.15.Revocation and variation of registered decisions

    16. 6.16.Orders for disclosure of information

  8. PART VII ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS

    1. Chapter 1. General

      1. 7.1.Enforcement of order for payment of money, etc

      2. 7.2.Committal and injunction

      3. 7.3.Transfer of county court order to High Court

    2. Chapter 2. Judgement summonses

      1. 7.4.General provisions

      2. 7.5.Special provisions as to judgement summonses in the High Court

      3. 7.6.Special provisions as to judgement summonses in divorce county courts

    3. Chapter 3. Registration and Enforcement of Custody Orders

      1. 7.7.Registration under Family Law Act 1986

      2. 7.8.Application to register English Part I order

      3. 7.9.Registration of Scottish and Northern Ireland orders

      4. 7.10.Revocation and variation of English order

      5. 7.11.Registration of revoked, recalled or varied Scottish or Northern Ireland order

      6. 7.12.Interim directions

      7. 7.13.Staying and dismissal of enforcement proceedings

      8. 7.14.Particulars of other proceedings

      9. 7.15.Inspection of register

    4. Chapter 4. Enforcement of maintenance orders

      1. 7.16.Interpretation

      2. 7.17.Registration etc. of orders under Act of 1920

    5. Proceedings under Part II ofAct of 1950

      1. 7.18.Interpretation of rules 7.18 to 7.21

      2. 7.19.Registration etc of English order

      3. 7.20.Registration etc of Scottish and Northern Irish orders

      4. 7.21.Inspection of register

    6. Registration etc of certain orders under the Act of 1958

      1. 7.22.Application and interpretation of rules 7.22 to 7.29

      2. 7.23.Application for registration

      3. 7.24.Registration in a magistrates' court of an order registered in the High Court

      4. 7.25.Registration of magistrates' court order

      5. 7.26.Registration in the High Court of an order registered in a magistrates' court

      6. 7.27.Variation or discharge of registered order

      7. 7.28.Appeal from variation etc of order by magistrates' court

      8. 7.29.Cancellation of registration

    7. Proceedings under Act of 1972

      1. 7.30.Interpretation of rules 7.31 to 7.39

      2. 7.31.Application for transmission of maintenance order to reciprocating country

      3. 7.32.Certification of evidence given on provisional order

      4. 7.33.Confirmation of provisional order

      5. 7.34.Taking of evidence for court in reciprocating country

      6. 7.35.Notification of variation or revocation

      7. 7.36.Transmission of documents

      8. 7.37.Application of rules 7.30 to 7.36 to Republic of Ireland

      9. 7.38.Application of rules 7.30 to 7.36 to the Hague Convention countries

  9. PART VIII APPEALS

    1. 8.1.Appeals from district judges

    2. 8.2.Appeals under Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978)

  10. PART IX DISABILITY

    1. 9.1.Interpretation and application of Part IX

    2. 9.2.Person under disability must sue by next friend etc.

    3. 9.3.Service on person under disability

    4. 9.4.Petition for nullity on ground of mental disorder

    5. 9.5.Separate representation of children

  11. PART X PROCEDURE (GENERAL)

    1. 10.1.Application

    2. 10.2.Service on solicitors

    3. 10.3.Service on person acting in person

    4. 10.4.Service by bailiff in proceedings in principal registry

    5. 10.5.Proof of service by officer of court etc.

    6. 10.6.Service out of England and Wales

    7. 10.7.Mode of giving notice

    8. 10.8.Notice of intention to defend

    9. 10.9.Mode of making applications

    10. 10.10.Orders for transfer of family proceedings

    11. 10.11.Procedure on transfer of cause or application

    12. 10.12.Evidence by affidavit

    13. 10.13.Taking of affidavit in county court proceedings

    14. 10.14.Evidence of marriage outside England and Wales

    15. 10.15.Official shorthand note etc of proceedings

    16. 10.16.Copies of decrees and orders

    17. 10.17.Service of order

    18. 10.18.No notice of intention to proceed after year’s delay

    19. 10.19.Filing of documents at place of hearing etc.

    20. 10.20.Inspection etc of documents retained in court

    21. 10.21.Disclosure of addresses

    22. 10.22.Practice to be observed in district registries and divorce county courts

    23. 10.23.Transitional Provisions

  12. Signature

    1. APPENDIX 1

      Forms

    2. APPENDIX 2

      Contents of petition

    3. APPENDIX 3

      Part IV applications—notices and respondents

  14. Explanatory Note