Guidance and Resources

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On this page you will find various national resources, guidance and best practice publications useful for family law professionals, as listed below. Click on the item below to take you to the relevant section on this page.

This guidance applies to family proceedings in the Court of Appeal (Civil  Division), the High Court of Justice and the Family Court. It is issued as  guidance (not as a practice direction) by the President of the Family Division,  as Head of Family Justice. It is issued in light of the coming into force on 6  April 2023 of new rules and a practice direction relating to the attendance at any court hearing of independent domestic violence advisers/independent  sexual violence advisers as support to litigants at all levels of the Family  Court. 

In December 2018 the President of the Family Division asked Mr Justice Keehan to establish and chair the Public Law Working Group (PLWG) to address the operation  of the child protection and family justice systems.  The principal objectives of the working group were to recommend (a) changes to both systems which could be implemented readily and without  the need for primary or  secondary legislation  to effect  the same and (b)  longer-term changes which  would  require primary or secondary legislation and/or the expenditure of public funds.  

The Reports (which can be downloaded below) include important pre-proceedings and case management best practice guidance and more recently in April 2023 consideration has been given to making Supervision Orders more effective. The Family Court in Milton Keynes will expect professionals working in the family justice system to understand and implement the best practice recommendations contained within these comprehensive reports.

This Guidance applies to civil and family proceedings in the Court of Appeal (Civil Division), the High Court of Justice, the County Courts and the Family Proceedings Court in the Magistrates’ Courts.1 It is issued as guidance (not as a Practice Direction) by the Master of the Rolls, as Head 

of Civil Justice, and the President of the Family Division, as Head of Family Justice - July 2010.

The Reports (which can be downloaded below) include important pre-proceedings and case management best practice guidance and more recently in April 2023 consideration has been given to making Supervision Orders more effective. The Family Court in Milton Keynes will expect professionals working in the family justice system to understand and implement the best practice recommendations contained within these comprehensive reports.