The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2018

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules amend the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (S.I. 2010/2955) (“FPR 2010”).

Rules 3 and 4 insert new rules 1.5 and 5.6 respectively. These rules make provision to support the principles (set out in the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 and the Welsh Language Act 1993 respectively) that the Welsh language has official status in Wales and that in any legal proceedings in Wales the Welsh language may be used by any person who desires to use it. The new rules are similar to new rules inserted into the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (SI 1998/3132) by the Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2018 (SI 2018/975).

Rule 5 amends the FPR 2010 to prescribe, for the purpose of paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973, what types of proceedings will constitute proceedings in another jurisdiction and make provision for the circumstances in which proceedings in another jurisdiction will be continuing.

Rule 6 inserts a new rule 30.12A, enabling hearings of appeals which would otherwise be in private to be in public if the appeal court so orders, with power for the court to impose restrictions on publication of information relating to the proceedings if appropriate.

No impact assessment has been produced for this instrument because no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.