Made under the Courts Act 2003
10 statutory instruments made using powers in the Courts Act 2003, newest first. Each one is explained section by section in plain English.
The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2026
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Courts Act 2003
Updated the procedural framework for the Family Court to review and manage prohibited steps orders issued by the Crown Court.
These Rules amend the Family Procedure Rules 2010 to establish the practice and procedure for reviewing, varying, or discharging prohibited steps orders made by the Crown Court under the Children Act 1989.
They specify that the Family Court or High Court must handle these reviews and identify the necessary parties, including local authorities and persons with restricted parental responsibility.
The instrument applies to court officers, legal professionals, and parties involved in family law proceedings in England and Wales from 18 December 2026.
The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Courts Act 2003
Amended the 2005 Regulations to require the inclusion of claimant names in the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines while establishing specific exemptions and a transitional period.
This statutory instrument amends the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines Regulations 2005 to require court officers to include the full name of the claimant when submitting information for the public register of money judgments.
It applies to court officials and the Registrar in England and Wales, mandating that claimant names be recorded unless the party has been granted legal anonymity or the judgment relates to specific categories such as administration orders and certain tribunal decisions.
The regulations also establish a transitional period during which the Registrar is not required to publish these names immediately.
The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2026
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Courts Act 2003
Amended the Family Procedure Rules 2010 to require that experts in children proceedings be regulated by statutory or accredited bodies, subject to specific exceptions for technical and international experts.
This statutory instrument amends the Family Procedure Rules 2010 to regulate the use of expert evidence in children proceedings and specify how information from proceedings may be shared.
It mandates that courts in England and Wales generally only permit expert evidence from 'regulated experts'—those overseen by recognized UK statutory or professional bodies—unless specific exceptions apply, such as for technical analysts or when a regulated expert is unavailable.
The order also authorizes the creation of practice directions regarding the court's permission to communicate information from financial remedy and other family proceedings.
The Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Change of coming into force) Order 2026
Postponed the implementation of various court and tribunal fee increases by seven days, moving the effective date to 13 July 2026.
The Lord Chancellor postpones the commencement date of the Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026 from 6th July 2026 to 13th July 2026.
This Order applies to fees collected across various legal venues, including the Court of Protection, Magistrates' Courts, the Upper Tribunal, and the First-tier Tribunal, covering matters such as probate, insolvency, and immigration.
The change affects several existing fee orders and is issued with the consent of the Treasury and after consultation with senior members of the judiciary.
The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Courts Act 2003
The Family Procedure Rule Committee amended the Family Procedure Rules 2010, revised rules on guardian appointments, restricted personal detail disclosure only to the court, and mandated that appeals against lay justice decisions go directly to the appeal court, with rules commenced between January and June 2026.
The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025, made by the Family Procedure Rule Committee under the Courts Act 2003, amend the existing Family Procedure Rules 2010 with changes taking effect across three dates in 2026; key amendments include removing an outdated cross-reference related to children’s guardians, clarifying the scope of confidentiality for personal details to the court, broadening who can have their details protected, and establishing a requirement that permission to appeal decisions made by lay justices or specified types of decisions must be sought directly from the appeal court.
The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2025
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Civil Procedure Act 1997, Courts Act 2003
The Rules amended Part 77 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 to introduce procedures for High Court review of referred Parole Board release decisions under specific statutory powers and established protocols for managing non-disclosure applications within these proceedings.
The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2025, enacted by the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, bring into force amendments to Part 77 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998, effective December 31, 2025.
These rules establish the specific civil procedure, including defining the parties and processes for evidence submission and service, to handle cases where the Secretary of State directs the High Court to review a Parole Board decision regarding a prisoner's release.
Furthermore, the amendments detail the application process for non-disclosure of sensitive material during these proceedings, including the appointment and duties of Special Advocates.
The Court and Public Guardian Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Insolvency Act 1986, Courts Act 2003, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Crime and Policing Act 2014
The Lord Chancellor enacted the Order, which amends fees for non-contentious probate documents, increases fees for Public Guardian applications, and introduces fee exemptions for certain insolvency disclosures and prisoner parole referrals.
The Court and Public Guardian Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025 amends several existing statutory instruments concerning court and public guardian fees.
This Order introduces an exemption from probate fees for estates involving emergency service personnel or armed forces personnel eligible for inheritance tax reliefs, and revises the fee for obtaining copies of specific probate documents.
Furthermore, it increases fees charged by the Public Guardian for registering Enduring and Lasting Powers of Attorney, and implements new fee exemptions for civil proceedings related to insolvency protective orders and judicial referrals concerning the parole decisions for prisoners.
The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2025
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Civil Procedure Act 1997, Courts Act 2003
The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2025 amended the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 to improve efficiency, clarify processes, and incorporate provisions for updated legislation, including the introduction of electronic filing.
The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2025 amend the Civil Procedure Rules 1998, primarily to integrate electronic filing and case management systems and to accommodate recent legislative changes.
Specific changes include updates to rules concerning time limits (rule 2.8), filing and sending documents (rule 5.5), alternative procedure for claims (Part 8), competition law claims (rule 30.8), costs assessment (rule 44.6), adding parties to proceedings (rule 46.2), appeals (Part 52), hearings (rule 62.10), and closed material proceedings (Part 82).
The amendments aim for enhanced efficiency, clarity, and accessibility within the civil justice system.