COVID-19

We have collated all the recent guidance around remote hearings from a variety of sources, as well as draft template orders, to make it as easy as possible for our clients during the COVID-19 Pandemic. FOURTEEN also offers services to clients to assist with preparing for remote hearings, including e-bundling and hosting telephone and video hearings

Guidance

Here is the latest guidance on the Coronavirus Pandemic and the impact on all aspects of family law hearings:

NEW: The President’s “The Road Ahead”, 9 June 2020;
The President’s “National Guidance for the Family Court”, 19 March 2020;
MacDonald J’s “The Remote Access Family Court” (v.4), 16 April 2020;
Letter from the Lord Chief Justice, Master of the Rolls, and President of the Family Division regarding Civil and Family hearings, April 2020;
Re P (A Child: Remote Hearing) [2020] EWFC 32;
Mostyn J’s Guidance for Financial Remedy Court Judges, 17 March 2020;
Mostyn J and HHJ Hess’ letter regarding Financial Remedy cases, 15 April 2020
The President’s Guidance on Compliance with Child Arrangements Orders, 24 March 2020;
Temporary Amendments to the Practice Guidance on
Case Management and Mediation of International Child Abduction Proceedings, 26 March 2020;
Pan-London Private and Public Family Law Interim Procedures, 20 March 2020;
CFC Plan for Working Until End of April 2020 (Children Cases), 30 March 2020;
CFC Notice on Financial Remedy Cases between 4 May and 3 July 2020, dated 24 April 2020;
West London Family Court Plan for Family Hearings in May and June 2020, 9 April 2020
Financial Remedy hearings listed in the Central Family Court between 6 April and 1 May 2020, issued on 30 March 2020;
Hayden J’s “Remote Access to the Court of Protection” Guidance, 31 March 2020;
Updating letter from Hayden J on the steps taken by the Court of Protection to respond to the Pandemic, 4 May 2020
Letter from HHJ Handley, DFJ for Northamptonshire, 14 April 2020;
Re Q [2020] EWHC 1109 (Fam) – further guidance from the President in remote private law children cases
Re A (Children) [2020] EWCA Civ 583– Court of Appeal allows appeal and McFarlane P clarifies guidance on remote hearings in Family Law cases

Template Orders

For your convenience, here are Word templates of key template orders:

To set up remote hearings;
Where the case concerns Child Abduction; and
Court of Protection remote hearings
CFC template orders:

Legal Aid/Remuneration

If your case involves publicly-funded parties, we hope the following will be of some assistance:

NEW: Updated LAA guidance on Remote Family Hearings, 15 April 2020;
Some suggested recitals to Orders where one or more of the parties is legally-aided.

Services offered by FOURTEEN

We know that the preparation for remote hearings and making arrangements for telephone and video conferencing/hearings can be daunting. With this in mind, FOURTEEN offers an e-bundling service and can set up telephone hearings, remote conferences with clients, and video-link hearings. For more information, please contact our clerks either by email or by telephone – 020 7242 0858.

Most importantly, from all of us at FOURTEEN, please keep safe!