Family Courts Act 2024
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Family Courts Practice and Procedure Committee | ||
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52. (1) The Principal Judges of the Family High Court, the Family Circuit Court and the Family District Court (in this section referred to as “the Family Courts”) and no more than 2 members of the staff of the Courts Service nominated by the Chief Executive of the Courts Service shall, subject to subsection (4), meet as a committee, to be known as the Family Courts Practice and Procedure Committee, on a regular basis, being not less than twice during any year, with the aim of— | ||
(a) ensuring, in so far as possible, a consistent approach to practice and procedure among the Family Courts, and | ||
(b) considering relevant matters related to the functions of the Courts Service under section 5 of the Courts Service Act 1998 in relation to the Family Courts. | ||
(2) Without prejudice to the functions of the Superior Courts Rules Committee, the Circuit Court Rules Committee or the District Court Rules Committee, the Family Courts Practice and Procedure Committee may propose the making of rules of court by any or all of those Committees in respect of family law proceedings. | ||
(3) A Principal Judge referred to in subsection (1) may request that a meeting of the Family Courts Practice and Procedure Committee be convened in addition to the meetings mentioned in subsection (1) where he or she is of the opinion that a divergence in practice or procedure is emerging among the Family Courts. | ||
(4) Where a request is made under subsection (3), a meeting of the Family Courts Practice and Procedure Committee shall be convened as soon as practicable. | ||
(5) The Family Courts Practice and Procedure Committee shall regulate its own procedure and business. |