Managing proceedings online

The digitalisation programme set out by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) aims to increase the efficiency of family proceedings. Amendments have been made, and continue to be made to the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010) to provide that certain applications and proceedings are to proceed by electronic means, ie online rather than on paper.

See Practice Note: Online family proceedings toolkit which brings together various resources and documents associated with the HMCTS online system and online proceedings, including signposting to provisions in the FPR 2010, pilot schemes that are in operation in the Family Court, Lexis+® UK Practice Notes and HMCTS guidance available to assist practitioners dealing with proceedings online.

Online divorce procedure

FPR 2010, PD 41A (Proceedings by electronic means: certain proceedings for a matrimonial order) came into effect on 6 April 2020 and sets out the procedure by which, in the circumstances provided for in the Practice Direction, an application for a divorce may proceed by electronic means. FPR 2010, PD 41A sets out the modifications that are made to the FPR 2010 when the application is made via the online service.

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