Family Procedure Rules Updates 2026: What Has Changed and When

This is an observational summary of the updates published on the Ministry of Justice Family Procedure Rules page, which was last updated on 13 July 2026. It is not legal advice. Always check the official text, as dates and pilots can change.

Rules changes from 20 July 2026

The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2026 came into force on 20 July 2026. They:

• Add a new rule 9.47, enabling a practice direction to deal with the court giving permission to communicate information from proceedings.
• Amend rule 25.2 to define "regulated expert" and "technical expert".
• Add rule 25.5A, requiring that in certain children proceedings expert evidence is given by a regulated expert, subject to specified exceptions.
• Do not apply the expert changes to proceedings issued before 20 July 2026.

PD25B and PD25C were amended from the same date. Experts must confirm and evidence their regulated status, and parties must address whether an expert is regulated and explain any exception relied on.

Practice Direction Update No.3 of 2026

• PD2C: Justices' Legal Advisers can, in limited circumstances, extend the timetable for proceedings under section 32(5) of the Children Act 1989 (from 26 June 2026).
• PD11A: from 26 October 2026, the email address for Forced Marriage and FGM Protection Orders is updated, and notification of service, variation or discharge goes directly to the relevant local police force.
• PD12A, PD12B, PD12J and PD12B (Pilot): signpost the Protocol on Disclosure of information between family and criminal agencies and jurisdictions (from 26 June 2026).
• PD36Z / PD12B (Pilot): amended to reflect practice in the Child Focused Model, including timescales, sequencing, and the Child Impact Report (from 26 June 2026).
• PD36ZI: pilot extended to July 2027, and the applicant's and, where known, respondent's date of birth is included in police notifications (from 26 June 2026).

Practice Direction Update No.4 of 2026

PD36ZI applies to notifiable orders made in the period ending 13 July 2027. See our post on PD36ZI for more.

Pilot extensions

• PD36Z: extended to 31 March 2027, including the Hampshire and Isle of Wight courts (Aldershot, Basingstoke, Newport, Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester).
• PD36G and PD36ZD: extended to 31 March 2027.
• PD36ZH (Express Financial Remedy): extended to 2 April 2027, and now includes Stockport Family Court.
• PD36V (Family Mediation Voucher Scheme): extended to 31 March 2029.

Other changes in 2026

• PD27A (bundles): clarifies which preliminary documents should be agreed and who files them, and points litigants in person to guidance on preparing bundles (from 24 March 2026).
• Rule 29.1: the protection for parties who ask that their details are not revealed was extended (from 1 June 2026).

What this may mean for you

If you are in a pilot court or on a pilot route, your court letters will usually say so. If your case involves an expert, it may be worth asking whether the expert needs to be regulated. This page shares community insights only and does not provide legal advice.