2016 No. 1013 (L. 18)
Family Proceedings
Senior Courts Of England And Wales
Family Court, England And Wales

The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2016

Made
Laid before Parliament
Coming into force
The Family Procedure Rule Committee makes the following rules in exercise of the powers conferred by section 75 of the Courts Act 20031.

Citation and commencement1.

These Rules may be cited as the Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2016 and come into force on 14th November 2016.

Amendment to the Family Procedure Rules2.

In rule 14.2 (application for a serial number) of the Family Procedure Rules 20102

(a)

in the heading, for “Application for” substitute “Assignment of”;

(b)

for paragraphs (2) and (3), substitute—

“(2)

In a case under paragraph (1)(a), a serial number must be assigned to identify the person intending to adopt the child in connection with the proceedings in order for the person’s identity to be kept confidential in those proceedings.

(3)

In a case under paragraph (1)(b), a serial number must be assigned to the person in whose favour the adoption order has been made to keep the identity of the person confidential in proceedings referred to in paragraph (1)(b).”; and

(c)

in paragraph (5), for “If” substitute “When”.

Marie Brock
Richard Burton
Melanie Carew
Paul Carr
Chris Darbyshire
Jane Harris
Dylan Jones
Lord Justice McFarlane
Hannah Perry
HHJ Alison Raeside
Lucy Theis, J

I allow these Rules

Sir Oliver Heald QC
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Ministry of Justice
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Rules)

These rules amend rule 14.2 of the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (S.I. 2010/2955), which makes provision for the assignment of serial numbers to adoptive parents or prospective adoptive parents in proceedings for adoption and certain other proceedings, in order to keep their identity confidential. The amendments replace existing provision, requiring an application before a serial number is assigned, with provision for mandatory assignment of serial numbers in such cases.

No impact assessment has been produced for this instrument because no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.