Guidance

Practice Direction update 2 (2021): Family Procedure Rules 2010

This new pilot Practice Direction 36V reflects the existence of the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, launching 26 March 2021.

• From: Family Procedure Rule Committee and Ministry of Justice
• Published: 26 March 2021

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

PD update 2 of 2021

PDF, 135 KB, 3 pages

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Details

Practice Direction 36V (Family Mediation Voucher Scheme)

This new pilot practice direction is made under rule 36.2 FPR 2010. It modifies the Family Procedure Rules (FPR) and practice directions to reflect the existence of the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, which will launch on 26 March 2021.

The purpose of the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme is to offer a financial contribution of £500 towards mediation costs for eligible cases. The aims of the scheme are to:

1. Aid court recovery in response to the pandemic.
2. Provide an evidence base around the effectiveness of providing a financial incentive to encourage disputes to be resolved using mediation, instead of the courts, where appropriate.

The pilot Practice Direction specifies which cases it will apply to - see paragraph 1.4 of the attached document.

Its focus is on private law matters relating to children or on financial remedy matters where there is also an ongoing private law dispute relating to children.

Published 26 March 2021