This Statutory Instrument has been made, in part, in consequence of a defect in S.I. 2019/517 and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that Statutory Instrument.
2021 No. 155 (L. 3)
Family Proceedings
Senior Courts Of England And Wales
Family Court, England And Wales

The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021

Made
Laid before Parliament
Coming into force
The Family Procedure Rule Committee makes the following Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 75 and 76(8) of the Courts Act 20031, having fulfilled the requirements of section 79(1) of that Act:

Citation and commencement1.

These Rules may be cited as the Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021 and come into force on 6th April 2021.

Amendment of the Family Procedure Rules 20102.

The Family Procedure Rules 20102 are amended in accordance with rules 3 and 4 of these Rules.

Amendment of rule 6.433.

For rule 6.43(3)(a) substitute—

“(a)

provided for by rule 6.45 (service through foreign governments, judicial authorities and British Consular authorities); or”.

Insertion of new rule 36.34.

After rule 36.2 insert—

“Temporary modifications for coronavirus or other emergency36.3.

Practice Directions may modify or disapply any provision of these rules—

(a)

for specified periods; and

(b)

in relation to proceedings in specified courts,

in order to address issues for the work of the courts arising from the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak or any other public emergency.”.

Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division
District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) Branston
Melanie Carew
His Honour Judge Godwin
Tony McGovern
Mr Justice Mostyn
Her Honour Judge Raeside
District Judge Williams

I allow these Rules

Signed by authority of the Lord Chancellor

Alex Chalk
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Ministry of Justice
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules amend the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (“the FPR”) (S.I. 2010/2955).

Rule 3 amends rule 6.43 of the FPR which makes provision for cases where service is to be effected on a respondent outside of the United Kingdom.

Rule 4 inserts a new rule 36.3 into the FPR to enable provisions of the FPR to be modified or disapplied by Practice Directions to address issues for the work of the courts arising from a public emergency.