F1PART 7PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATIONS IN MATRIMONIAL AND CIVIL PARTNERSHIP PROCEEDINGS
CHAPTER 7GENERAL PROVISIONS
General rule – hearing to be in public7.30.
(1)
The general rule is that a hearing to which this Part applies is to be in public.
(2)
The requirement for a hearing to be in public does not require the court to make special arrangements for accommodating members of the public.
(3)
A hearing, or any part of it, may be in private if—
(a)
publicity would defeat the object of the hearing;
(b)
it involves matters relating to national security;
(c)
it involves confidential information (including information relating to personal financial matters) and publicity would damage that confidentiality;
(d)
a private hearing is necessary to protect the interests of any child or protected party;
(e)
it is a hearing of an application made without notice and it would be unjust to any respondent for there to be a public hearing; or
(f)
the court considers this to be necessary, in the interests of justice.
(4)
A hearing of an application for rescission of an order by consent under rule 7.34 is, unless the court directs otherwise, to be in private.
(5)
The court may order that the identity of any party or witness must not be disclosed if it considers non-disclosure necessary in order to protect the interests of that party or witness.
Notice of hearing7.31.
The court officer will give notice to the parties—
(a)
of the date, time and place of every hearing which is to take place in a case to which they are a party; and
(b)
in the case of a hearing following a direction under rule 7.10(2)(a), of the fact that, unless the person wishes or the court requires, the person need not attend.
Further provisions about costs7.32.
(1)
In a disputed case any party to matrimonial or civil partnership proceedings may be heard on any question as to costs at the hearing of the proceedings.
(2)
In a standard case, any application for costs should be made using the Part 18 procedure.
Stay of proceedings7.33.
(1)
Where—
(a)
the court is considering an application in accordance with rule 7.10 or gives directions under rule 7.11 or 7.17;
(b)
it appears to the court that there are proceedings continuing in any country outside England and Wales which are in respect of the marriage or civil partnership in question or which are capable of affecting its validity or subsistence; and
(c)
the court considers that the question whether the proceedings should be stayed under paragraph 9 of Schedule 1 to the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973 or, for civil partnership proceedings, under rules made under sections 75 and 76 of the Courts Act 2003 ought to be determined by the court,
the court must give directions for the hearing of that question.
(2)
The court may, if all parties agree, deal with any question about the jurisdiction of the court without a hearing.
(3)
For the purposes of paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973—
(a)
proceedings in another jurisdiction shall include such proceedings which are not instituted in a court of that jurisdiction, if they are instituted before a tribunal or other authority having power under the law having effect there to determine questions of status; and
(b)
proceedings which are continuing in another jurisdiction are proceedings which have been begun and have not been finally disposed of.
The circumstances in which an order may be set aside (rescission)7.34.
Either party to the marriage or civil partnership concerned may apply—
(a)
after the conditional order has been made but before it has been made final; or
(b)
after a judicial separation order or separation order has been made,
for the rescission of the order on the grounds that the parties are reconciled and both consent to the rescission.
Records of decrees absolute and final orders7.35.
(1)
A central index of decrees absolute and final orders must be kept under the control of the principal registry.
(2)
Any person may require a search to be made of that index and to be provided with a certificate showing the results of that search.
(3)
Any person who requests it must be issued with a copy of the decree absolute or final order.