The Family Proceedings (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Rules.)

These Rules amend the Family Proceedings Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996 so as to—

(a) relax the rules governing the amendment of petitions (rule 4);

(b) update statutory references relating to pensions in rule 2.73 (rule 5);

(c) provide for the making of applications under the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 and for bringing appeals against orders made on such applications (rules 6, 7, 9, 10 and 13(b));

(d) make provision in respect of the inclusion of an exclusion requirement in an interim care order or an emergency protection order under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (rules 8 and 13(a));

(e) enable the court to direct a next friend or guardian ad litem to take part in proceedings where the court is considering whether to allow a minor to proceed without such a person (rule 11);

(f) enable the court to direct an alternative form of service where personal service is impracticable (rule 12).