Explanatory note

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

Rule 3 makes a minor amendment to rule 16.4 FPR to remove a cross-reference to rule 8.42 FPR, as that rule was omitted by the Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/61).

Rule 4 amends rule 29.1 FPR. That rule previously enabled a party to indicate to the court that their own contact details should be kept confidential. The amendments clarify that those details should be kept confidential to the court, and enable a party to give such an indication in respect of their own, or another party’s, contact details.

Rule 5(a) amends rule 30.3(1B) FPR to provide that where a person wishes to appeal against a decision of the family court made by a lay justice, a bench of lay justices, or a decision of a type specified in Practice Direction 30A, they must first seek permission to appeal. Rule 5(b) inserts a new paragraph (3A) to rule 30.3 FPR to provide that such an application for permission to appeal must be made to the appeal court (so not to the court which made the decision in relation to which permission to appeal is sought).

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.