Policy & Strategy
2008
28 July 2008
Proposal to close Nelson County Court
This paper sets out for consultation the proposal that Nelson County Court is closed and the existing services and jurisdictional responsibility be transferred to Burnley Combined Court.
Nelson County Court has limited jurisdiction. It deals with county court civil claims, divorce and private law family applications. It has no High Court or bankruptcy jurisdiction, nor does it administer children's funds.
8 January 2008
Written ministerial statement: court fees in public law family proceedings
Justice Minister Bridget Prentice has made a written ministerial statement on the consultation on court fees in child care and adoption proceedings published on 19 December 2007.
2007
19 December 2007
Public Law Family Fees Consultation Paper
A consultation on the government's strategy for developing the fees system in the civil and family courts of England and Wales. The consultation sets out proposals to:
- make changes to court fees in relation to Public Law Children Act process.
- make changes to fees charged for Adoption proceedings.
15 November 2007
Her Majesty's Court User Survey
The results from our first full year's user survey is published on the Ministry of Justice website.
16 April 2007
Family Proceedings Court Plan - HMCS Dorset Area (PDF 180.57Kb)
22 March 2007
Confidence and confidentiality: Improving transparency and privacy in family courts
This report summarises responses to the consultation on improving transparency and privacy in family courts. It also includes discussions of views expressed at stakeholder events and in online discussion forum for adults, and children and young people.
March 2007
Delivering a Step Change in Performance: National Standards, Consistently Applied (PDF 879.89Kb)
2006
Response to consultation paper: a model for the provision of Justices' Clerks in England and Wales
The summary of responses to this consultation paper is now available on the MoJ website.
Consultation Paper: Separate representation of children
This consultation paper sets out proposals on how to improve the outcomes for children involved in family proceedings.
Improving transparency and privacy in family courts
This HMCS/MoJ consultation sets out the Government's proposals for improving transparency and privacy in the family courts.
Electronic Filing and Document Management
HMCS Business Strategy (PDF 249.72Kb)
Technology And Construction Court Pilots New Court Settlement Process (PDF 22.80Kb)
Technology and Construction Court Interim Report and Consultation: Pre-action Protocol for Construction and Engineering Disputes (PDF 75.04Kb)
2005
Management Proposals to Develop a Unified Family Service Consultation paper (PDF)
The response paper sets out HM Courts Service plans to support family courts. The aim is for County Courts and Family Proceeding Centres to work together as one unit, achieving greater flexibility in the use of resources and the transfer of family work between FPC justices, District Judges and Circuit Judges.
- two related papers on the Ministry of Justice website:
Specialisation of Family Magistrates
This paper sets out for consultation how sitting for family magistrates might be split between the adult court and family proceedings courts and whether magistrates should be able to specialise in family work.
Authorisations to sit in Family Proceedings Courts and Youth Courts
This consultation document seeks views on proposals to change the process by which magistrates are authorised to sit and preside in family proceedings courts and youth courts, following the introduction of the Courts Act 2003.