Amendments to the Family Procedure Rules 2010
26. For rule 12.26, substitute—
“Discussion between advocates
12.26.—(1) When setting a date for the Case Management Hearing or the Issues Resolution Hearing the court will direct a discussion between the parties’ advocates to—
(a)discuss the provisions of a draft of the Case Management Order; and
(b)consider any other matter set out in Practice Direction 12A.
(2) Where there is a litigant in person the court will give directions about how that person may take part in the discussions between the parties’ advocates.
(3) Unless the court directs otherwise—
(a)any discussion between advocates must take place no later than 2 days before the Case Management Hearing; and
(b)a draft of the Case Management Order must be filed with the court no later than 11a.m. on the day before the Case Management Hearing.
(4) Unless the court directs otherwise—
(a)any discussion between advocates must take place no later than 7 days before the Issues Resolution Hearing; and
(b)a draft of the Case Management Order must be filed with the court no later than 11a.m. on the day before the Issues Resolution Hearing.
(5) For the purposes of this rule “advocate” includes a litigant in person.”.