Ministry of Justice Legislation
74 statutory instruments made by the Ministry of Justice, newest first. Each one is explained section by section in plain English.
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 Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2026
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Sentencing Act 2026
The Regulations brought specified commencement dates into force for key sections of the Sentencing Act 2026 concerning early release from determinate sentences and consequential driving disqualification amendments, utilizing a phased approach for existing prisoners.
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State, specify the commencement dates for key provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026, particularly sections 23 and 24, which relate to the early release of prisoners serving adult standard determinate sentences in England and Wales.
Section 23 reduces the required custodial period from 40 or 50 percent to one-third for releases under section 244 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, and from two-thirds to one-half for releases under section 244ZA; these changes begin applying to most eligible prisoners on September 2nd, 2026, with complex phasing for those serving longer sentences or subject to Home Detention Curfew, ensuring consequential updates to driving disqualifications are also covered.
The Insolvency (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2026
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Insolvency Act 1986
Amended insolvency procedures by removing fax filing, increasing London bankruptcy petition limits, and updating judicial terminology.
These Rules amend the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 to modernize court procedures and administrative requirements for corporate and personal insolvency.
The instrument removes fax as a permitted method of document delivery, simplifies electronic filing requirements to a single copy, and replaces the term 'registrar' with 'judge' across various procedural categories.
It also increases the financial threshold for presenting bankruptcy petitions in the London Insolvency District from £50,000 to £500,000 and clarifies the approval process for insolvency practitioners seeking to exceed their original fee estimates.
These changes apply to insolvency practitioners, the courts, the Insolvency Service, and parties involved in insolvency proceedings in England and Wales.
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fees (Amendment) Order 2026
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
Amended the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fees Order 2013 to introduce new fees for proceedings under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and updated definitions and fee structures.
This Order, made by the Lord Chancellor and effective from May 1st, 2026, amends the 2013 Fees Order governing the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to prescribe new fees and update existing structures.
The primary function is to introduce specific fees for proceedings arising from the Renters' Rights Act 2025, covering applications for rent determination, tenancy terms, and appeals against financial penalties, alongside updating general commencement and hearing fees.
The Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Sentencing Act 2026
The regulations brought specified sections of the Sentencing Act 2026 into force across the UK on May 11, 2026, and June 1, 2026, affecting prison capacity reporting, community sentence completion, and licence termination for public protection sentences.
These Regulations officially activate specified parts of the Sentencing Act 2026 across the whole of the UK by setting two commencement dates: May 11, 2026, and June 1, 2026.
The provisions coming into force primarily concern establishing a duty for the Secretary of State to report annually on prison capacity, repealing outdated supervision rules, making community order and suspended sentence supervision termination simpler upon requirement completion, and enabling offenders serving IPP or DPP sentences to request early licence termination review by the Parole Board.
The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) (Amendment) Rules 2026
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
The Rules amended the 2013 Tribunal Procedure for the Property Chamber to incorporate jurisdiction under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and adjusted provisions related to costs orders for Housing Act 1988 financial penalty appeals.
These Rules amend the existing 2013 procedural rules governing the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal, primarily to integrate the jurisdiction created by the Renters' Rights Act 2025 concerning residential property disputes and new penalties, while also clarifying the scope of the Tribunal’s authority to make costs orders in specific Housing Act 1988 penalty appeals.
The Taking Control of Goods (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
Extended the bailiff notice period to 14 days and increased the fees recoverable during the enforcement process.
These regulations amend the procedures for enforcement agents taking control of goods in England and Wales to increase debtor protections and adjust recovery fees.
They direct that the standard notice period given to a debtor before goods are seized must increase from 7 to 14 days, and allow for an extension to 28 days if a debt advice provider makes a request on the debtor's behalf.
The measure also restricts High Court enforcement agents from escalating to certain fee stages if they have not established contact, while simultaneously raising the fixed fees and value thresholds for enforcement actions.
These rules apply to enforcement agents, debt advice providers, and individual and business debtors, except those with non-eligible business debts.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6, 8 and 9 and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Ministry of Justice
- Made under: Domestic Abuse Act 2021
The Regulations amended previous commencement instruments to extend the pilot operation dates for Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 in England and Wales until 24th November 2026.
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State for Justice, amend existing commencement orders related to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, specifically extending the pilot commencement dates for provisions under Part 3 of the Act in England and Wales until 24th November 2026.
They revise the sunset clauses in the 2024 and 2025 commencement regulations, ensuring that the piloted provisions remain in force in specified areas past the previously scheduled end date of 31st March 2026.