Last amended by S.I. 2026/723 (pending) in 2026. An amendment substituting words in rule 2.3(1) (interpretation) is recorded on legislation.gov.uk as not yet applied as at 1 August 2026.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR) are the single procedural code for family proceedings in the High Court (Family Division) and, since its creation in April 2014, the Family Court in England & Wales. Made under the Courts Act 2003 and in force from 6 April 2011, they replaced the Family Proceedings Rules 1991 and mirror the CPR's structure: an overriding objective of dealing with cases justly, having regard to any welfare issues involved (Part 1), active case management (Part 4), and specialist Parts covering matrimonial and civil partnership proceedings (Part 7), financial remedies (Part 9), domestic abuse applications under Part 4 of the Family Law Act 1996 (Part 10), children proceedings including the Public Law Outline (Part 12), adoption (Part 14), representation of children (Part 16), experts (Part 25) and appeals (Part 30). Part 3, substantially strengthened from 29 April 2024, requires parties to consider non-court dispute resolution and gives the court a duty to consider it at every stage, alongside the MIAM (mediation information and assessment meeting) attendance requirement rooted in s.10 of the Children and Families Act 2014. The Rules are frequently amended; legislation.gov.uk records one amendment (S.I. 2026/723) not yet applied as at 1 August 2026.
Key Points
- Overriding objective: dealing with cases justly, having regard to any welfare issues involved — including proportionality, fairness, saving expense and allotting appropriate court resources (rule 1.1)
- Part 3: the court must consider non-court dispute resolution (NCDR) at every stage, and can adjourn proceedings for it; parties must file forms setting out their views on NCDR (strengthened from 29 April 2024)
- MIAM requirement: an applicant for most private children or financial remedy applications must first attend a mediation information and assessment meeting, subject to exemptions such as domestic abuse evidence (rules 3.6–3.8)
- Part 3A and Practice Direction 3AA: participation directions for vulnerable persons giving evidence or participating in proceedings
- Part 9 provides the financial remedy procedure (Forms A and E, first appointment, FDR appointment, final hearing), including the standard and fast-track procedures
- Part 12 governs children proceedings, including the 26-week timetable for care and supervision cases under the Public Law Outline
- Part 16 governs representation of children (children's guardians, litigation friends, rule 16.4 guardians in private law cases)
- Part 25 restricts expert evidence in children proceedings to that which is 'necessary' (s.13 Children and Families Act 2014)
- Part 27: attendance at hearings and the presence of media representatives (rule 27.11), the foundation for the open reporting provisions rolled out across family courts from 2024–2025
- Amended several times a year; costs consequences can follow failure to engage with NCDR without good reason (rule 28.3(7) as amended in 2024)
Amendments History
2014 — Family court reforms (Crime and Courts Act 2013; Children and Families Act 2014)
From 22 April 2014 the FPR were adapted to the new single Family Court; the statutory MIAM requirement (s.10 CFA 2014) and the child arrangements order replaced residence and contact orders, reflected throughout the Rules.
2024 — Family Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2023 (SI 2023/1324)
From 29 April 2024, strengthened Part 3: new definition of non-court dispute resolution, duty on parties to state their views on NCDR, removal of the need for party agreement before adjourning for NCDR, tightened MIAM exemptions, and costs consequences in financial remedy cases for unreasonable failure to engage (rule 28.3(7)).
2026 — S.I. 2026/723 (pending)
An amendment substituting words in rule 2.3(1) (interpretation) is recorded on legislation.gov.uk as not yet applied as at 1 August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the Family Procedure Rules 2010 and when did they start?
- The Family Procedure Rules 2010 are the single procedural code for family proceedings in the High Court (Family Division) and the Family Court in England and Wales. They have been in force since 6 April 2011 and replaced the Family Proceedings Rules 1991. The rules were made under the Courts Act 2003 and are designed to ensure cases are dealt with justly, taking into account any welfare issues involved.
- How long do children's care cases typically take under the rules?
- Part 12 of the Family Procedure Rules governs children proceedings. It includes the Public Law Outline, which sets out a 26-week timetable for care and supervision cases. This structure helps ensure that cases involving children are managed actively and progress through the court system in a timely manner, in line with the overriding objective of dealing with cases justly.
- What is the process for financial remedy cases in the Family Court?
- Part 9 of the Family Procedure Rules sets out the procedure for financial remedy cases. It covers the use of specific forms, such as Forms A and E, and outlines key stages including the first appointment, the Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) appointment, and the final hearing. The rules provide for both standard and fast-track procedures to handle these financial matters.
- What happens if I refuse to try mediation or other dispute resolution methods?
- From 29 April 2024, the rules were amended to strengthen the requirement to consider non-court dispute resolution. If a party unreasonably fails to engage with this process in financial remedy cases, there can be costs consequences. Specifically, rule 28.3(7) as amended in 2024 allows the court to consider the failure to engage when deciding on costs, potentially leading to an order that the non-compliant party pays some or all of the other side's legal costs.
- How are children represented in family court proceedings?
- Part 16 of the Family Procedure Rules governs the representation of children in proceedings. It covers the appointment of children's guardians, litigation friends, and specific guardians under rule 16.4 for private law cases. These representatives ensure that the child's interests are properly represented in court, particularly when the child cannot represent themselves or when their interests may differ from those of a parent.