Pre-proof hearings meaning

Procedural Guide: Applications for Child Arrangements Orders under section 8 Children Act 1989 This Procedural Guide outlines the procedural steps for applying under section 8 of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989) for a child arrangements order (CAO). It covers eligibility to apply, pre-action obligations including attendance at a mediation information and assessment meeting (MIAM), the court’s guiding principles, and provisions for non-court dispute resolution (NCDR). It also addresses service requirements and the criteria for without notice (ex parte) applications. Allocation, gatekeeping and safeguarding processes are explained, together with what may occur at the first hearing dispute resolution appointment (FHDRA) and the dispute resolution appointment (DRA), as well as the approach to fact-finding hearings, vulnerable witnesses and the final hearing. A CAO is one of the orders available to the court under ChA 1989, s 8. It is an order concerning: with whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact, and when a child is to live, spend time or...

Note: As of 1 October 2023, the CPR has been updated to broaden the scope of fixed recoverable costs. These changes apply where the cause of action arises on or after 1 October 2023 (typically the accident date). For the version of Part 45 that applied before 1 October 2023, see: Can more than fixed costs be recovered? London weighting A 12.5% uplift to fixed costs applies if the claimant resides or works, and the instructed solicitor practises, within one of the London areas identified in CPR 45. Other circumstances For direction on other situations where recovery beyond fixed costs may be possible, see Practice Note: Fixed costs in road traffic accident claims. Children Distinct fixed costs apply to infant approval hearings, known as Type C fixed costs. The schedule for fixed costs under the Pre-Action Protocol for Low Value Personal Injury Claims in Road Traffic Accidents (the RTA protocol) appears at Table 10 in CPR PD 45. See Practice Note: Fixed costs in...

STOP PRESS: The Financial Remedies Guide 2026, issued on 13 March 2026 by Mr Justice Peel (National Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court) and His Honour Judge Hess (Deputy National Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court), with the approval of the President of the Family Division, now replaces and supersedes: the Statement on the efficient conduct of financial remedy cases allocated to a High Court judge whether sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice or elsewhere (1 February 2016) (the High Court judge level efficiency statement) the Statement on the efficient conduct of financial remedy hearings proceeding in the Financial Remedies Court below High Court judge level (11 January 2022) (the below High Court judge level efficiency statement) the Financial Remedies Court Primary Principles document (11 January 2022) the Notice from the Financial Remedies Court: electronic bundles (19 April 2022) the Allocation of financial remedies cases to High Court judge level (21 May 2024) This document is...

In this issue Key DR developments Claims and remedies Costs and funding Cross-border disputes Injunctions Pre-action and limitation Litigation Dates for your diary Useful information Daily and weekly news alerts Key DR developments Court and the legal profession The 11th Edition of the King’s Bench Guide: Key changes from the 10th Edition (April 2024) feature, among other updates, refreshed guidance on telephone hearings (Chapter 9); a reoriented emphasis reflecting the court’s enhanced alternative dispute resolution powers (Chapter 10); updated costs management, with the Senior Master’s Guidance Note now placed at Annex 8 (Chapter 10); amendments mirroring recent Part 25 reforms and the removal of CPR PD 25A and CPR PD 25B (Chapter 12); plus a new section on securing evidence from other jurisdictions (Chapter 20). For more detail, see LNB News 29/04/2025 29—the 11th Edition of the King’s Bench Guide has been released. UKSC and JCPC publish final year of 2023–2026 business plan:...

In this issue Key DR developments Claims and remedies Cross-border disputes Injunctions Litigation Evidence and disclosure New content Dates for your diary Useful information Daily and weekly news alerts Key DR developments Guidance HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has released refreshed guidance for the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) small claims track. It outlines how to pursue IP claims of £10,000 or less and sets out the applicable criteria and procedure. Updated sections cover pre-action requirements, service of documents, engagement of experts, assembling evidence and bundles, and attendance at hearings or appeals. For further detail, see: LNB News 13/08/2025 13—HMCTS publishes updated guidance on IPEC small claims track procedures. Online money claims HMCTS has revised the ‘Payment by Account for online services’ guidance, updating the contact details in the ‘Get help’ section relating to the Payment by Account facility for online court fees. For further detail, see: HMCTS Payment by...

In this issue: Practice and procedure Domestic abuse Private children Financial provision International children New content Updated content Daily and weekly news alerts Useful information Practice and procedure Master of the Rolls speech addresses AI adoption in legal profession and digital assets jurisdiction alignment Addressing the Legal Geek Conference, the Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, observed a rapid change in attitudes to AI across the legal profession. He emphasised that AI is a powerful aid for tasks like summarising documents and undertaking legal research, while warning its deployment must be grounded in understanding, privacy protection and robust verification. He noted AI can help draft contracts and even generate legal advice or judgments, yet its role must be carefully weighed, particularly in judicial decision‑making, where ethical and societal consequences are significant. Sir Geoffrey examined the notion of AI making judicial decisions, acknowledging machines might efficiently assess personal injury damages, but lack human empathy...

The Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008) establishes the consent framework for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) across energy, transport, water, waste water and waste. Decisions on development consent order (DCO) applications may be taken by reference to any relevant National Policy Statements (NPSs), which articulate national policy for NSIPs. See Practice Note: National Policy Statements. While the Secretary of State (SoS) is legally accountable for the decision, in practice the government entrusts acceptance and examination of applications to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS). See Practice Note: Examination of nationally significant infrastructure projects—general. The government has issued a ‘Collection: National Infrastructure Planning Guidance Portal’, containing guidance on NSIP pre-examination, the examination itself, the fast-track route for NSIPs, and awards of costs relating to the examination of DCO applications. Collectively, these provisions define the route by which nationally significant schemes are assessed and authorised, with guidance set out in practice notes and the collection. Fast-track process Under PA 2008, s 98(1), the Examining Authority (EA) must conclude examination of the application...

Certain specified employees have the statutory right to make a request to undertake study or training This entitlement applies to employees working for organisations with 250 or more staff who meet the qualifying service requirement (see: Eligibility and qualifying period, below). Although the scheme was originally intended to be broadened to include smaller employers, the government deferred that step to allow further evaluation of the likely impact on small businesses, and there are currently no plans to proceed with any extension. The approach to counting the number of employees for these purposes is prescribed by the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (Commencement No 2 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2010 (Commencement No 2 Order 2010), SI 2010/303. For a pro-forma policy aligned with the statutory arrangements, see Precedent: Policy—time off work for study and training. Official guidance on this right can be found on the GOV.UK website. The legal position on study or training rights and obligations for young employees is distinct from that applicable...

This Practice Note addresses applications for permission to appeal and notices of appeal lodged on or after 2 December 2024, which fall under the Supreme Court Rules 2024 (SCR 2024), SI 2024/949, together with the Supreme Court Practice Directions (SCR PD). For guidance on the Supreme Court Rules applicable to appeals progressing before 2 December 2024, or where the permission application or notice of appeal was submitted prior to that date, consult the following Practice Notes: Supreme Court—permission to appeal—appeals pre-2 December 2024 [Archived] Supreme Court—completing an application for permission or notice of appeal and how to respond—appeals pre-2 December 2024 [Archived] Supreme Court—starting and managing the appeal—appeals pre-2 December 2024 Statutory basis of appeal to the Supreme Court The United Kingdom Supreme Court (UKSC) was created by Part 3 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, which took effect on 1 October 2009. The Supreme Court’s jurisdiction aligns with that of its predecessor, the House of Lords (HL). It also...