The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024

Made: 11th December 2024

Laid before Parliament: 12th December 2024

Coming into force: 27th January 2025

The Family Procedure Rule Committee makes these Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 75 and 76(8) of the Courts Act 2003[^f00001], having fulfilled the requirements of section 79(1) of that Act.

Citation, extent and commencement

1

• (1) These Rules may be cited as the Family Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024.

• (2) These Rules extend to England and Wales.

• (3) These Rules come into force on 27th January 2025.

Amendment of the Family Procedure Rules 2010

2

The Family Procedure Rules 2010[^f00002] are amended in accordance with rules 3 to 6 of these Rules.

Amendment of Part 12

3

In rule 12.73 (communication of information: general)—

• (a) in paragraph (1)(b) after “permission” insert “, including as provided for under rule 12.73A”; and

• (b) in paragraph (2) for “Nothing” substitute “Except as provided for under rule 12.73A, nothing”.

4

After rule 12.73 (communication of information: general) insert—

(12.73A) Practice Direction 12R makes provision in relation to the court giving permission to communicate information from proceedings.

Amendment of Part 14

5

In rule 14.14 (communication of information relating to proceedings) in paragraph (a) after “permission” insert “, including as provided for under rule 14.14A”.

6

After rule 14.14 (communication of information relating to proceedings) insert—

(14.14A) Practice Direction 14G makes provision in relation to the court giving permission to communicate information from proceedings.

Signed

Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division — Poonam Bhari — Her Honour Judge Birk — District Judge Foss — Graeme Fraser — Mr Justice Keehan — Jennifer Kingsley JP — District Judge Nelson — Helen Sewell — Her Honour Judge Suh

I allow these Rules

Ponsonby — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State — Ministry of Justice — 11th December 2024

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

Explanatory Note

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

The FPR include provision for when it will not amount to a contempt of court to communicate information from proceedings heard in private in relation to a child. Rules 4 and 6 of these Rules insert new rules into the FPR (rules 12.73A and 14.14A) to enable provision to be made in Practice Directions relating to the court permitting such communication. Rules 3 and 5 of these Rules make consequential amendments to existing provisions of the FPR.

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.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2003 c. 39. Section 75 was amended by paragraphs 308 and 338 of Part 1 of Schedule 4 and Part 2 of Schedule 18 to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), paragraphs 83 and 91 of Part 2 of Schedule 10 to the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22) and paragraph 3(1) and (2) of Schedule 4 to the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (c. 35).

[^f00002]: S.I. 2010/2995. Relevant amendments were made by S.I. 2013/534.