Employment analysis: An update letter from Mark Lewis, Employment Tribunals Service Manager of HM Courts & Tribunals Service, has been issued about the next steps for the MyHMCTS portal, which is currently only available for certain types of claims in the early adopter sites of Glasgow, Leeds, Bristol and Nottingham. HMCTS has also provided written answers to questions raised during a webinar for professional users on 30 November 2023.

Employment analysis: An update letter from Mark Lewis, Employment Tribunals Service Manager of HM Courts & Tribunals Service, has been issued about the next steps for the MyHMCTS portal, which is currently only available in the early adopter sites of Glasgow, Leeds, Bristol and Nottingham. The update is accompanied by a document covering Frequently Asked Questions about the reforms.

Employment analysis: A joint letter from the two Presidents of Employment Tribunals attaching an important message from Mark Lewis, Employment Tribunals Service Manager of HM Courts & Tribunals Service has been issued, providing (1) an urgent notification that from 30 May 2024 professional representatives seeking to present a claim online in Scotland, Leeds, Midlands East, South West England or any of the three London offices must do so using MyHMCTS portal, and (2) confirming dates over the next two months for national roll out of reform in the remaining England and Wales regions of North West (Manchester), Newcastle, South East (Watford), Midlands West (Birmingham) and Wales. Professional representatives who have not yet taken steps to register on MyHMCTS are urged to do so.

Employment analysis: A letter from Michael Nuna (Senior Project Manager) on behalf of Mark Lewis, Employment Tribunals Service Manager of HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has been issued, containing important information about the MyHMCTS portal to be used by claimant representatives from 30 May 2024, including a link to a YouTube video that walks users through the new online journey. Professional representatives who have not yet taken steps to register on MyHMCTS are urged to do so.

Employment analysis: An email from Mark Lewis, Employment Tribunals Service Manager of HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has been shared with Employment Tribunal national user group members, reminding professional users that the go-live date for the MyHMCTS portal in the North West England region (Manchester) of the Employment Tribunals is Monday 3 June 2024.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has implemented changes to the Form D8 divorce application system. The release, which goes live on 4 December 2025, introduces significant changes to discrepancies between applicants’ current names and those recorded on marriage certificates. Previously, insufficient evidence and unclear name details led to delays and refusals. To mitigate this, new questions and guidance have been added to both citizen and solicitor journeys within the Form D8 application, ensuring clarity for applicants and respondents. These enhancements aim to improve caseworker checks and reduce conditional order refusals, although legal advisors will only see the full benefit after a 20 week period.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has published a release note confirming that from 20 August 2024, case file view (CFV) is available for practitioners on the contested financial remedy service accessible via the portal (MyHMCTS). CFV replicates the layout of court bundles. To ensure documents are clearly identifiable, a naming convention has been agreed with the judiciary, which must be followed. The CFV file name should always contain the type of document being uploaded, the full name of the person whose evidence is set out in that document and the date of document creation or signing, for example, ‘Case Summary Joe Bloggs 01/01/24’.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has released a podcast episode exploring Common Platform, a digital case management system that connects the police, Crown Prosecution Service, prisons, legal professionals and the judiciary on a single shared platform. The episode features interviews with users discussing the platform’s role in improving access to information, enhancing collaboration and streamlining court processes.

The HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has released a podcast featuring David Kerry and David Franks. The podcast explores the benefits of mediation and the recent changes to the Small Claims Mediation Service, particularly how the service can help find a quicker resolution to disputes.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has reported that digital probate applications have increased from 17% in 2019-20 to 80% between April and December 2024, with over one million digital applications processed since the service launched in 2019. The modernisation programme has reduced the total case backlog from 97,000 in August 2023 to 37,000, with workable cases dropping by 80% to 9,856 as of January 2025. The digital service includes streamlined processes for both personal applicants and probate professionals, featuring digital statements of truth, real-time tracking, and integration with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) processes. HMCTS continues to maintain paper-based options and support services for those less confident with digital applications.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) reported that Crown Court sitting days reached a record 110,647 during 2025–26, marking a 35% increase from 82,000 days in 2019–20. In 2024–25, the service handled over 1.3 million cases across Crown and magistrates' courts. HMCTS is implementing recommendations from Sir Brian Leveson’s independent Review of the Criminal Courts and developing a new National Listing Framework in collaboration with the senior judiciary to improve case prioritisation and scheduling. Additionally, the government has doubled magistrates' sentencing powers to divert cases from Crown Court, and fully remote sentencing courts are now operational in Sheffield, Isleworth and parts of Wales. Despite the increased capacity, the median time from charge to completion in Crown Court rose to 181 days between October and December 2025—an increase of 5% compared to the previous year. HMCTS is also expanding the Common Platform digital system and investing in court buildings and audio-visual equipment as part of its ongoing modernisation efforts.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has published its evaluation of digital reforms across seven civil, family and tribunal services. The study found digitalisation generally improved access to justice and case timeliness, with uptake boosted by mandatory use for professionals and pandemic-driven increases in digital confidence. However, persistent technical issues, uneven user experience, and language barriers limited benefits for some groups.