Episode 46 What do changes to the Family Procedure Rules mean for separating couples?

In April 2024, changes were made to the Family Procedure Rules to encourage more people to use non-court-based methods to resolve financial issues arising from divorce or over their children. 

Matt & Liza discuss these changes and share their (sometimes very different) opinions on what they think about the changes, and what does it actually mean for separating couples?

00:30 What are the Family Procedure Rules? 
01:01 What were the changes? 
01:31 What is non-court dispute resolution (NCDR)?
03:30 What are the positives of the changes? And how will it work in practice?07:00 How are the family courts approaching it?
08:25 What are the limitations?
14:24 What about cases with domestic abuse or power imbalance? 
17:56 Is NCDR actually a cheaper alternative? 
21:23 Is the family court slowly being privatised?
23:02 Will the changes actually make any difference?
24:17 The role of case law from NA v LA [2024] EWFC 113 (24 May 2024) and its limitations
27:11 The challenges of the changes 
28:35 How do the changes impact separating couples, and what do they need to do? 

Additional resources 

The role of the family court: https://bit.ly/480zrlh 
The dangers of a DIY divorce: https://bit.ly/3Tsvql7
Representing yourself in the family court (podcast): https://bit.ly/472zXhd
How to represent yourself in the family court (video): https://youtu.be/1i4cD8bZYcM
How to manage child hearings in the family court: https://youtu.be/gYg86a-A_l0
How mediation can help you separate: https://bit.ly/3MdX4y4  

Download our free in-depth handbook on how to complete a Form E: https://bit.ly/3A7MMvN or Beginner’s Guide to Divorce: https://bit.ly/beginnersdivorceguide 

If you need support with the issues raised in this podcast, or would like to speak to a family lawyer, contact Stowe at: https://bit.ly/35WPSj2

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