About Family Law
In family law, half the battle is keeping on top of the latest case law, legislation, precedents and forms. Lexis+ Family brings everything together for you online, in one place. So you can get up to speed faster, with more time to spend on your clients.
Financial provision
Comprehensive coverage of all aspects of financial provision, from underlying principles considered by the court to applications under specific legislation. Not forgetting in-depth practical guidance on specialist areas.
Private children
Get stuck into all areas of private children law, from fundamental principles to evidence and procedure. Plus subtopics to make sure practitioners have the relevant practical guidance at their fingertips.
International law
Families are increasingly international, so practitioners need quick access to relevant practical guidance. We'll provide the information you need to advise your clients on the best jurisdiction.
Lexis+® Family
In family law, half the battle is keeping on top of the latest case law, legislation, precedents and forms. Lexis+® Family brings everything together for you online, in one place.
Latest Family News
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) FPL service team has confirmed that from 18 November 2025, where an application is submitted during existing...
This week's edition of the Family weekly highlights includes details of updated Courts and Tribunals Judiciary AI guidance for the judiciary, the...
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) FPL service team have confirmed that a new query management feature will be launching on the FPL service on 12...
The Judiciary of England and Wales has published a protective measures fact sheet prepared by the International Hague Network of Judges for England...
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has published details of the courts and tribunals opening times for the 2025 Christmas and New Year period....
Latest Family Practice Notes
Forms of address for the judiciaryThere are certain protocols that need to be followed when addressing members of the judiciary. These protocols apply...
Court etiquetteThe most important rule is to be polite. If you are polite to everyone at all times, it is hard to go seriously wrong.The judgeMake...
Applicants for a special guardianship orderThis Practice Note explains who is automatically entitled to apply for a special guardianship order (SGO)...
Emergency prohibited steps and child arrangements ordersThis Practice Note explains how to make a without notice application for a child arrangements...
Family provision claims—procedural tableProcedural tablegrant of representation and of every ApplicantsSpouse or civil partner of the deceased.I(PFD)A...
Latest Family Precedents
Public children—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding public law applications relating to children. Your family lawyer will be...
Non—molestation and occupation orders—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding injunctions to protect from domestic abuse...
Specimen questionnaire—financial remedy applicationBank accounts1Provide a schedule of all bank or other accounts (whether current, deposit, loan or...
Specimen chronology—financial remedy applicationIn the FAMILY COURT SITTING AT [insert court location]No. [insert number]Between[insert applicant...
Specimen statement of issues for a first appointment—financial remedy applicationIn the Family Court sitting at [location][Case No]Between1[insert...
Latest Family Q&As
Featured Family content
Procedure—Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989
Procedure—Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989This Practice Note sets out the procedural requirements in relation to an application under Schedule 1 to...
Applications under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Applications under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997This Practice Note explains the six criminal offences that may be committed under the...
Striking out a statement of case
Striking out a statement of caseThis Practice Note explains the court's power to strike out a statement of case. It summarises the grounds on which a...
The grounds on which a marriage is void
The grounds on which a marriage is voidA void marriage is one that will be treated by the court as never having taken place. The grounds on which a...
Sequestration (confiscation of assets) within contempt proceedings
Sequestration (confiscation of assets) within contempt proceedingsSequestration is a process for dealing with a contempt of court that would be...
Application to vary, extend or discharge a non-molestation or occupation order
Application to vary, extend or discharge a non-molestation or occupation orderUnder the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996) a non-molestation order is an...
Notice to show cause applications in family proceedings
Notice to show cause applications in family proceedingsIf one party considers that an agreement has been reached (usually in relation to financial...
What is the procedure to withdraw an application made on Form C100?
Pre-nuptial agreements—client guide
Pre-nuptial agreements—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding pre-nuptial agreements. Your family lawyer will be able to...
Steps to take after a client meeting
Steps to take after a client meetingFile noteA file note (also known as an attendance note) should be prepared immediately after the first interview,...
Is a divorce petition a public document and can anyone request a copy? If not, is there anything to prevent a party to a divorce from giving copies of the petition to a third party such as an employer?
Declarations of parentage—procedure
Declarations of parentage—procedureThe procedure for an application for a declaration of parentage is governed by the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR...
Working with counsel
Working with counselInstructing counsel to advocate on a client’s behalf should be a matter of careful thought and preparation. The role of counsel is...
Non-molestation orders
Non-molestation ordersUnder the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996) a non-molestation order is an order prohibiting a person (the respondent) from...
Reports under section 37 of the Children Act 1989
Reports under section 37 of the Children Act 1989Under section 37 of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989), the court has the power to order an...
‘Associated persons’ as defined in section 62(3) of Family Law Act 1996 includes people who have, or have had, an intimate personal relationship with each other which is or was of significant duration. How is ‘significant duration’ defined and how long is considered significant?
Financial clean break orders in family proceedings
Financial clean break orders in family proceedingsDuty of the court to consider a clean breakAlthough there is no presumption in favour of there being...
What is the procedure to withdraw a divorce petition that has already been served on the respondent? Will the respondent be notified of any application to withdraw the petition and what does the court take into account in deciding whether the petition should be dismissed?
Associated legal terms
Form A1
A Form A1 is a court form in family proceedings setting out the applicant's notice of (or intention to proceed with) an application for a financial remedy (other than an application for a financial order).
Standard procedure
The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2018, SI 2018/440 amended FPR 2010 with effect from 4 June 2018, primarily introducing new provisions as to ‘fast-track’ and ‘standard’ procedures in relation to applications for a financial remedy. The changes apply only to proceedings issued on or after 4 June 2018. For details of proceedings to which the fast-track is applicable. All other financial remedy proceedings will be dealt with under the standard procedure.
Transfer day (also known as the effective date)
The date when a pension sharing order takes effect and the recipient of a pension credit becomes legally entitled to the pension credit. The order can only take effect on the later of: • the making of the final decree of divorce/dissolution, and • seven days after the time has expired for appealing the order (ie after 28 days)—see sections 24B(2) and 24C of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973
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