BAILII is celebrating 24 years of free online access to the law! Would you consider making a contribution?

No donation is too small. If every visitor before 31 December gives just £5, it will have a significant impact on BAILII's ability to continue providing free access to the law.
Thank you very much for your support!



BAILII [Home] [Databases] [World Law] [Multidatabase Search] [Help] [Feedback]

United Kingdom Statutory Instruments


You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> United Kingdom Statutory Instruments >> The Court of Protection Rules 2007 No. 1744 (L. 12)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/legis/num_reg/2007/20071744.html

[New search] [Help]



STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS


2007 No. 1744 (L. 12)

MENTAL CAPACITY, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Court of Protection Rules 2007

  Made 25th June 2007 
  Laid before Parliament 4th July 2007 
  Coming into force 1st October 2007 


CONTENTS


PART 1

PRELIMINARY
1. Title and commencement
2. Revocations

PART 2

THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE
3. The overriding objective
4. The duty of the parties
5. Court's duty to manage cases

PART 3

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS
6. Interpretation
7. Court officers
8. Computation of time
9. Application of the Civil Procedure Rules

PART 4

COURT DOCUMENTS
10. Documents used in court proceedings
11. Documents required to be verified by a statement of truth
12. Failure to verify a document
13. Failure to verify a witness statement
14. False statements
15. Personal details
16. Supply of documents to a party from court records
17. Supply of documents to a non-party from court records
18. Subsequent use of court documents
19. Editing information in court documents
20. Public Guardian to be supplied with court documents relevant to supervision of deputies
21. Provision of court order to Public Guardian
22. Amendment of application
23. Clerical mistakes or slips
24. Endorsement of amendment

PART 5

GENERAL CASE MANAGEMENT POWERS
25. The court's general powers of case management
26. Court's power to dispense with requirement of any rule
27. Exercise of powers on the court's own initiative
28. General power of the court to rectify matters where there has been an error of procedure

PART 6

SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS
Service generally
29. Scope
30. Who is to serve
31. Methods of service
32. Service of documents on children and protected parties
33. Service of documents on P if he becomes a party
34. Substituted service
35. Deemed service
36. Certificate of service
37. Certificate of non-service
38. Power of court to dispense with service
Service out of the jurisdiction
39. Application of Family Procedure (Adoption) Rules 2005

PART 7

NOTIFYING P
General requirement to notify P
40. General
41. Who is to notify P
Circumstances in which P must be notified
42. Application forms
43. Appeals
44. Final orders
45. Other matters
Manner of notification, and accompanying documents
46. Manner of notification
47. Acknowledgment of notification
48. Certificate of notification
49. Dispensing with requirement to notify, etc

PART 8

PERMISSION
50. General
51. Where the court's permission is not required
52. Exceptions to rule 51(2)(a)
53. Permission - supplementary
54. Application for permission
55. What the court will do when an application for permission to start proceedings is filed
56. Persons to be notified of the hearing of an application for permission
57. Acknowledgment of notification of permission application
58. Failure to file acknowledgment of notification
59. Service of an order giving or refusing permission
60. Appeal against a permission decision following a hearing

PART 9

HOW TO START PROCEEDINGS
Initial steps
61. General
62. When proceedings are started
63. Contents of the application form
64. Documents to be filed with the application form
65. What the court will do when an application form is filed
Steps following issue of application form
66. Applicant to serve the application form on named respondents
67. Applications relating to lasting powers of attorney
68. Applications relating to enduring powers of attorney
69. Applicant to notify P of an application
70. Applicant to notify other persons of an application
71. Requirements for certain applications
Responding to an application
72. Responding to an application
The parties to the proceedings
73. Parties to the proceedings
74. Persons to be bound as if parties
75. Application to be joined as a party
76. Applications for removal as a party to proceedings

PART 10

APPLICATIONS WITHIN PROCEEDINGS
77. Types of applications for which the Part 10 procedure may be used
78. Application notice to be filed
79. What an application notice must include
80. Service of an application notice
81. Applications without notice
Interim Remedies
82. Orders for interim remedies

PART 11

HUMAN RIGHTS
83. General

PART 12

DEALING WITH APPLICATIONS
84. Dealing with the application
85. Directions
Allocation of proceedings
86. Court's jurisdiction in certain kinds of case to be exercised by certain judges
Disputing the jurisdiction of the court
87. Procedure for disputing the court's jurisdiction
Participation in hearings
88. Participation in hearings
Reconsideration of court orders
89. Orders made without a hearing or without notice to any person

PART 13

HEARINGS
Private hearings
90. General rule – hearing to be in private
91. Court's general power to authorise publication of information about proceedings
Power to order a public hearing
92. Court's power to order that a hearing be held in public
Supplementary
93. Supplementary provisions relating to public or private hearings

PART 14

ADMISSIONS, EVIDENCE AND DEPOSITIONS
Admissions
94. Making an admission
Evidence
95. Power of court to control evidence
96. Evidence of witnesses – general rule
97. Written evidence – general rule
98. Evidence by video link or other means
99. Service of witness statements for use at final hearing
100. Form of witness statement
101. Witness summaries
102. Affidavit evidence
103. Form of affidavit
104. Affidavit made outside the jurisdiction
105. Notarial acts and instruments
106. Summoning of witnesses
107. Power of court to direct a party to provide information
Depositions
108. Evidence by deposition
109. Conduct of examination
110. Fees and expenses of examiners of the court
111. Examiners of the court
112. Enforcing attendance of a witness
113. Use of deposition at a hearing
Taking evidence outside the jurisdiction
114. Interpretation
115. Where a person to be examined is in another Regulation State
116. Where a person to be examined is out of the jurisdiction – letter of request
Section 49 reports
117. Reports under section 49 of the Act
118. Written questions to person making a report under section 49

PART 15

EXPERTS
119. References to expert
120. Restriction on filing an expert's report
121. Duty to restrict expert evidence
122. Experts – overriding duty to the court
123. Court's power to restrict expert evidence
124. General requirement for expert evidence to be given in a written report
125. Written questions to experts
126. Contents of expert's report
127. Use by one party of expert's report disclosed by another
128. Discussions between experts
129. Expert's right to ask court for directions
130. Court's power to direct that evidence is to be given by a single joint expert
131. Instructions to a single joint expert

PART 16

DISCLOSURE
132. Meaning of disclosure
133. General or specific disclosure
134. Procedure for general or specific disclosure
135. Ongoing duty of disclosure
136. Right to inspect documents
137. Inspection and copying of documents
138. Claim to withhold inspection or disclosure of document
139. Consequence of failure to disclose documents or permit inspection

PART 17

LITIGATION FRIEND
140. Who may act as a litigation friend
141. Requirement for a litigation friend
142. Litigation friend without a court order
143. Litigation friend by court order
144. Court's power to prevent a person from acting as litigation friend or to order change
145. Appointment of litigation friend by court order – supplementary
146. Procedure where appointment of litigation friend comes to an end – for a child or protected party
147. Procedure where appointment of litigation friend comes to an end – for P
148. Procedure where P ceases to lack capacity
149. Practice direction in relation to litigation friends

PART 18

CHANGE OF SOLICITOR
150. Change of solicitor
151. LSC funded clients
152. Order that a solicitor has ceased to act
153. Removal of solicitor who has ceased to act on application of another party
154. Practice direction relating to change of solicitor

PART 19

COSTS
155. Interpretation
156. Property and affairs – the general rule
157. Personal welfare – the general rule
158. Apportioning costs – the general rule
159. Departing from the general rule
160. Rules about costs in the Civil Procedure Rules to apply
161. Detailed assessment of costs
162. Employment of a solicitor by two or more persons
163. Costs of the Official Solicitor
164. Procedure for assessing costs
165. Costs following P's death
166. Costs orders in favour of or against non-parties
167. Remuneration of a deputy, donee or attorney
168. Practice direction as to costs

PART 20

APPEALS
169. Scope of this Part
170. Interpretation
171. Dealing with appeals
172. Permission to appeal
173. Matters to be taken into account when considering an application for permission
174. Parties to comply with the practice direction
175. Appellant's notice
176. Respondent's notice
177. Variation of time
178. Power of appeal judge on appeal
179. Determination of appeals
180. Allocation
Appeals to the Court of Appeal
181. Appeals against decision of a puisne judge of the High Court, etc
182. Second appeals

PART 21

ENFORCEMENT
183. Enforcement methods – general
184. Application of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 and RSC Orders
Orders for committal
185. Contempt of court – generally
186. Application for order of committal
187. Oral evidence
188. Hearing for committal order
189. Power to suspend execution of committal order
190. Warrant for arrest
191. Discharge of person committed
192. Penal notices
193. Saving for other powers
194. Power of court to commit on its own initiative

PART 22

TRANSITORY AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
195. Transitory provision: applications by former receivers
196. Transitory provision: dealing with applications under rule 195
197. Appeal against a decision of a nominated officer
198. Application of Rules to proceedings within paragraphs 3 and 12 of Schedule 5 to the Act
199. Practice direction

PART 23

MISCELLANEOUS
200. Order or directions requiring a person to give security for discharge of functions
201. Objections to registration of an enduring power of attorney: request for directions
202. Disposal of property where P ceases to lack capacity

The President of the Family Division of the High Court (the judicial office holder nominated by the Lord Chief Justice) with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor, makes the following Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 49(5), 50(2), 51, 53(2) and (4), 55, 56 and 65(1) of the Mental Capacity Act 2005[
1], and in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005[2].



PART 1

PRELIMINARY

Title and commencement
     1. These Rules may be cited as the Court of Protection Rules 2007 and come into force on 1 October 2007.

Revocations
    
2. The following rules are revoked—



PART 2

THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE

The overriding objective
     3. —(1) These Rules have the overriding objective of enabling the court to deal with a case justly, having regard to the principles contained in the Act.

    (2) The court will seek to give effect to the overriding objective when it—

    (3) Dealing with a case justly includes, so far as is practicable—

The duty of the parties
    
4. The parties are required to help the court to further the overriding objective.

Court's duty to manage cases
    
5. —(1) The court will further the overriding objective by actively managing cases.

    (2) Active case management includes—



PART 3

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

Interpretation
    
6. In these Rules—

Court officers
     7. —(1) Where these Rules permit or require the court to perform an act of a purely formal or administrative character, that act may be performed by a court officer.

    (2) A requirement that a court officer carry out any act at the request of any person is subject to the payment of any fee required by a fees order for the carrying out of that act.

Computation of time
    
8. —(1) This rule shows how to calculate any period of time which is specified—

    (2) A period of time expressed as a number of days must be computed as clear days.

    (3) In this rule "clear days" means that in computing the number of days—

    (4) Where the specified period is 7 days or less, and would include a day which is not a business day, that day does not count.

    (5) When the specified period for doing any act at the court office ends on a day on which the office is closed, that act will be done in time if done on the next day on which the court office is open.

Application of the Civil Procedure Rules
    
9. In any case not expressly provided for by these Rules or the practice directions made under them, the Civil Procedure Rules 1998[8] (including any practice directions made under them) may be applied with any necessary modifications, insofar as is necessary to further the overriding objective.



PART 4

COURT DOCUMENTS

Documents used in court proceedings
     10. —(1) The court will seal or otherwise authenticate with the stamp of the court the following documents on issue—

    (2) Where these Rules or any practice direction require a document to be signed, that requirement is satisfied if the signature is printed by computer or other mechanical means.

    (3) A practice direction may make provision for documents to be filed or sent to the court by—

Documents required to be verified by a statement of truth
    
11. —(1) The following documents must be verified by a statement of truth—

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3), a statement of truth is a statement that—

believes that the facts stated in the document being verified are true.

    (3) If a party is conducting proceedings with a litigation friend, the statement of truth in—

is a statement that the litigation friend believes the facts stated in the document being verified are true.

    (4) The statement of truth must be signed—

    (5) A statement of truth which is not contained in the document which it verifies must clearly identify that document.

    (6) A statement of truth in a permission form, an application form or an application notice may be made by—

where this is permitted by a relevant practice direction.

Failure to verify a document
    
12. If a permission form, application form or application notice is not verified by a statement of truth, the applicant may not rely upon the document as evidence of any of the matters set out in it unless the court permits.

Failure to verify a witness statement
    
13. If a witness statement is not verified by a statement of truth, it shall not be admissible in evidence unless the court permits.

False statements
    
14. —(1) Proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against a person if he makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.

    (2) Proceedings under this rule may be brought only—

Personal details
    
15. —(1) Where a party does not wish to reveal—

he must provide those particulars to the court.

    (2) Where paragraph (1) applies, the particulars given will not be revealed to any person unless the court so directs.

    (3) Where a party changes his home address during the course of the proceedings, he must give notice of the change to the court.

    (4) Where a party does not reveal his home address, he must nonetheless provide an address for service which must be within the jurisdiction of the court.

Supply of documents to a party from court records
    
16. Unless the court orders otherwise, a party to proceedings may inspect or obtain from the records of the court a copy of—

Supply of documents to a non-party from court records
    
17. —(1) Subject to rules 20 and 92(2), a person who is not a party to proceedings may inspect or obtain from the court records a copy of any judgment or order given or made in public.

    (2) The court may, on an application made to it, authorise a person who is not a party to proceedings to—

    (3) A person making an application for an authorisation under paragraph (2) must do so in accordance with Part 10.

    (4) Before giving an authorisation under paragraph (2), the court will consider whether any document is to be provided on an edited basis.

Subsequent use of court documents
    
18. —(1) Where a document has been filed or disclosed, a party to whom it was provided may use the document only for the purpose of the proceedings in which it was filed or disclosed, except where—

    (2) Paragraph (1)(a) is subject to any order of the court made under rule 92(2).

Editing information in court documents
    
19. —(1) A party may apply to the court for an order that a specified part of a document is to be edited prior to the document's service or disclosure.

    (2) An order under paragraph (1) may be made at any time.

    (3) Where the court makes an order under this rule any subsequent use of that document in the proceedings shall be of the document as edited, unless the court directs otherwise.

    (4) An application under this rule must be made in accordance with Part 10.

Public Guardian to be supplied with court documents relevant to supervision of deputies
    
20. —(1) This rule applies in any case where the court makes an order—

    (2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (6), the Public Guardian is entitled to be supplied with a copy of qualifying documents if he reasonably considers that it is necessary for him to have regard to them in connection with the discharge of his functions under section 58 of the Act in relation to the supervision of deputies.

    (3) The court may direct that the right to be supplied with documents under paragraph (2) does not apply in relation to such one or more documents, or descriptions of documents, as the court may specify.

    (4) A direction under paragraph (3) or (6) may be given—

    (5) "Qualifying documents" means documents which—

    (6) The court may direct that any document is to be provided to the Public Guardian on an edited basis.

Provision of court order to Public Guardian
    
21. Any order of the court requiring the Public Guardian to do something, or not to do something, will be served by the court on the Public Guardian as soon as practicable and in any event not later than 7 days after the order was made.

Amendment of application
    
22. —(1) The court may allow or direct an applicant, at any stage of the proceedings, to amend his application form or notice.

    (2) The amendment may be effected by making in writing the necessary alterations to the application form or notice, but if the amendments are so numerous or of such a nature or length that written alteration would make it difficult or inconvenient to read, a fresh document amended as allowed or directed may be issued.

Clerical mistakes or slips
    
23. The court may at any time correct any clerical mistakes in an order or direction or any error arising in an order or direction from any accidental slip or omission.

Endorsement of amendment
    
24. Where an application form or notice, order or direction has been amended under this Part, a note shall be placed on it showing the date on which it was amended and the alteration shall be sealed.



PART 5

GENERAL CASE MANAGEMENT POWERS

The court's general powers of case management
    
25. —(1) The list of powers in this rule is in addition to any powers given to the court by any other rule or practice direction or by any other enactment or any powers it may otherwise have.

    (2) The court may—

    (3) A judge to whom a matter is allocated may, if he considers that the matter is one which ought properly to be dealt with by another judge, transfer the matter to such a judge.

    (4) Where the court gives directions it may take into account whether or not a party has complied with any rule or practice direction.

    (5) The court may make any order it considers appropriate even if a party has not sought that order.

    (6) A power of the court under these Rules to make an order includes a power to vary or revoke the order;

    (7) Rules 25.12 to 25.15 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (which make provision about security for costs) apply in proceedings to which these Rules apply as if the references in those Rules to "defendant" and "claimant" were to "respondent" and "applicant" respectively.

Court's power to dispense with requirement of any rule
    
26. In addition to its general powers and the powers listed in rule 25, the court may dispense with the requirement of any rule.

Exercise of powers on the court's own initiative
    
27. —(1) Except where these Rules or some other enactment make different provision, the court may exercise its powers on its own initiative.

    (2) The court may make an order on its own initiative without hearing the parties or giving them the opportunity to make representations.

    (3) Where the court proposes to make an order on its own initiative it may give the parties and any person it thinks fit an opportunity to make representations and, where it does so, it will specify the time by which, and the manner in which, the representations must be made.

    (4) Where the court proposes—

it will give the parties and may give any other person it thinks likely to be affected by the order at least 3 days' notice of the hearing.

General power of the court to rectify matters where there has been an error of procedure
    
28. Where there has been an error of procedure, such as a failure to comply with a rule or practice direction—



PART 6

SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS

Service generally

Scope
    
29. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the rules in this Part apply to—

and references to "serve", "service", "notice" and "notify", and kindred expressions shall be construed accordingly.

    (2) The rules in this Part do not apply where—

Who is to serve
    
30. —(1) The general rule is that the following documents will be served by the court—

    (2) Any other document is to be served by the party seeking to rely upon it, except where—

    (3) Where the court is to serve a document—

Methods of service
    
31. —(1) A document may be served by any of the methods specified in this rule.

    (2) Where it is not known whether a solicitor is acting on behalf of a person, the document may be served by—

    (3) Where a solicitor–

the document must be served on the solicitor, unless personal service is required by an enactment, rule, practice direction or court order.

    (4) Where it appears to the court that there is a good reason to authorise service by a method other than those specified in paragraphs (2) or (3), the court may direct that service is effected by that method.

    (5) A direction that service is effected by an alternative method must specify—

    (6) A practice direction may set out how documents are to be served by document exchange, electronic communication or other means.

Service of documents on children and protected parties
    
32. —(1) The following table shows the person on whom a document must be served if it is a document which would otherwise be served on—

    (2) The court may make an order for service on a child or a protected party by permitting the document to be served on some person other than the person specified in the table set out in paragraph (1) above (which may include service on the child or the protected party).

    (3) An application for an order under paragraph (2) may be made without notice.

    (4) The court may order that, although a document has been served on someone other than the person specified in the table, the document is to be treated as if it had been properly served.

    (5) This rule does not apply in relation to the service of documents upon a child in any case where the court has made an order under rule 141(4) permitting the child to conduct proceedings without a litigation friend.

Service of documents on P if he becomes a party
    
33. —(1) If P becomes a party to the proceedings, all documents to be served on him must be served on his litigation friend or other person duly authorised to conduct proceedings on P's behalf.

    (2) The court may make an order for service on P by permitting the document to be served on some person other than the person specified in paragraph (1) above (which may include service on P).

    (3) An application for an order under paragraph (2) may be made without notice.

    (4) The court may order that, although a document has been served on someone other than a person specified in paragraph (1), the document is to be treated as if it had been properly served.

    (5) This rule does not apply in relation to the service of documents upon P in any case where the court has made an order under rule 147(2) (procedure where appointment of a litigation friend comes to an end – for P).

Substituted service
    
34. Where it appears to the court that it is impracticable for any reason to serve a document in accordance with any of the methods provided under rule 31, the court may make an order for substituted service of the document by taking such steps as the court may direct to bring it to the notice of the person to be served.

Deemed service
    
35. —(1) A document which is served in accordance with these Rules or any relevant practice direction shall be deemed to be served on the day shown in the following table—

Method of service Deemed day of service
First class post (or other service for next-day delivery) The second day after it was posted.
Document exchange The second day after it was left at the document exchange.
Delivering the document to a permitted address The day after it was delivered to that address.
Fax If it is transmitted on a business day before 4 p.m., on that day; or

in any other case, on the business day after the day on which it is transmitted.

Other electronic means The second day after the day on which it is transmitted.

    (2) If a document is served personally—

it will be treated as being served on the next business day.

Certificate of service
    
36. —(1) Where a rule, practice direction or court order requires a certificate of service for the document, the certificate must state the details set out in the following table—

Method of service Details to be certified
First class post (or any other service for next-day delivery) Date of posting.
Personal service Date of personal service
Document exchange Date when the document was left at the document exchange.
Delivery of document to permitted address Date when the document was delivered to that address.
Fax Date of transmission.
Other electronic means Date of transmission and the means used.
Alternative method permitted by the court As required by the court.

    (2) The certificate must be filed within 7 days after service of the document to which it relates.

Certificate of non-service
    
37. —(1) Where an applicant or other person is unable to serve any document under these Rules or as directed by the court, he must file a certificate of non-service stating the reasons why service has not been effected.

    (2) The certificate of non-service must be filed within 7 days of the latest date on which service should have been effected.

Power of court to dispense with service
    
38. —(1) The court may dispense with any requirement to serve a document.

    (2) An application for an order to dispense with service may be made without notice.

Service out of the jurisdiction

Application of Family Procedure (Adoption) Rules 2005
    
39. —(1) The rules in Section 2 of Part 6 of the Family Procedure (Adoption) Rules 2005[9] (‘the 2005 Rules') apply, with the modifications set out in this rule, to the service of documents out of the jurisdiction.

    (2) References in the 2005 Rules to the Hague Convention shall be read in these Rules as references to the Convention on the International Protection of Adults signed at the Hague on 13th January 2000 (Cm. 5881).

    (3) References in the 2005 Rules to the Senior Master of the Queen's Bench Division shall be read in these Rules as references to the Senior Judge.



PART 7

NOTIFYING P

General requirement to notify P

General
     40. —(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the rules in this Part apply where P is to be given notice of any matter or document, or is to be provided with any document, either under the Rules or in accordance with an order or direction of the court.

    (2) If P becomes a party, the rules in this Part do not apply and service is to be effected in accordance with Part 6 or as directed by the court.

    (3) In any case the court may, either on its own initiative or on application, direct that P must not be notified of any matter or document, or provided with any document, whether in accordance with this Part or at all.

Who is to notify P
    
41. —(1) Where P is to be notified under this Part, notification must be effected by—

    (2) The person within paragraph (1) is referred to in this Part as "the person effecting notification".

Circumstances in which P must be notified

Application forms
    
42. —(1) P must be notified-

    (2) Where P is to be notified that an application form has been issued, the person effecting notification must explain to P—

    (3) Where P is to be notified that an application form has been withdrawn, the person effecting notification must explain to P–

    (4) The person effecting notification must also inform P that he may seek advice and assistance in relation to any matter of which he is notified.

Appeals
    
43. —(1) P must be notified–

    (2) Where P is to be notified that an appellant's notice has been issued, the person effecting notification must explain to P –

    (3) Where P is to be notified that an appellant's notice has been withdrawn, the person effecting notification must explain to P –

    (4) The person effecting notification must also inform P that he may seek advice and assistance in relation to any matter of which he is notified.

Final orders
    
44. —(1) P must be notified of a final order of the court.

    (2) Where P is notified in accordance with this rule, the person effecting notification must explain to P the effect of the order.

    (3) The person effecting notification must also inform P that he may seek advice and assistance in relation to any matter of which he is notified.

Other matters
    
45. —(1) This rule applies where the court directs that P is to be notified of any other matter.

    (2) The person effecting notification must explain to P such matters as may be directed by the court.

    (3) The person effecting notification must also inform P that he may seek advice and assistance in relation to any matter of which he is notified.

Manner of notification, and accompanying documents

Manner of notification
    
46. —(1) Where P is to be notified under this Part, the person effecting notification must provide P with the information specified in rules 42 to 45 in a way that is appropriate to P's circumstances (for example, using simple language, visual aids or any other appropriate means).

    (2) The information referred to in paragraph (1) must be provided to P personally.

    (3) P must be provided with the information mentioned in paragraph (1) as soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which—

as the case may be.

Acknowledgment of notification
    
47. When P is notified that an application form or an appellant's notice has been issued, he must also be provided with a form for acknowledging notification.

Certificate of notification
    
48. The person effecting notification must, within 7 days beginning with the date on which notification in accordance with this Part was given, file a certificate of notification which certifies—

Dispensing with requirement to notify, etc
    
49. —(1) The applicant, the appellant or other person directed by the court to effect notification may apply to the court seeking an order —

    (2) An application under this rule must be made in accordance with Part 10.



PART 8

PERMISSION

General
    
50. Subject to these Rules and to section 50(1) of, and paragraph 20 of Schedule 3 to, the Act, the applicant must apply for permission to start proceedings under the Act.

(Section 50(1) of the Act specifies persons who do not need to apply for permission. Paragraph 20 of Schedule 3 to the Act specifies an application for which permission is not needed.)

Where the court's permission is not required
    
51. The permission of the court is not required—

    (1) where an application is made by–

    (2) where the application concerns —

    (3) where an application is made in accordance with Part 10; or

    (4) where a person files an acknowledgment of service or notification in accordance with this Part or Part 9, for any order proposed that is different from that sought by the applicant.

Exceptions to rule 51(2)(a)
    
52. —(1) For the purposes of rule 51(2)(a), the permission of the court is required to make any of the applications specified in this rule.

    (2) An application for the exercise of the jurisdiction of the court under section 54(2) of the Trustee Act 1925[
10], where the application is made by a person other than–

    (3) An application under section 36(9) of the Trustee Act 1925 for leave to appoint a new trustee in place of P, where the application is made by a person other than–

    (4) An application seeking the exercise of the court's jurisdiction under section 18(1)(b) (where the application relates to making a gift of P's property), (h) or (i) of the Act, where the application is made by a person other than–

    (5) An application under section 20 of the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996[11], where the application is made by a person other than a beneficiary under the trust or, if there is more than one, by both or all of them.

Permission - supplementary
     53. —(1) The provisions of rule 52(2) apply with such modifications as may be necessary to an application under section 18(1)(j) of the Act for an order for the exercise of any power vested in P of appointing trustees or retiring from a trust.

    (2) Where part of the application concerns a matter which requires permission, and part of it does not, permission need only be sought for that part of it which requires permission.

Application for permission
    
54. The applicant must apply for permission by filing a permission form and must file with it—

What the court will do when an application for permission to start proceedings is filed
    
55. Within 14 days of a permission form being filed, the court will issue it and—

Persons to be notified of the hearing of an application for permission
    
56. —(1) Where the court fixes a date for a hearing under rule 55(c), it will notify the applicant and such other persons as it thinks fit, and provide them with—

    (2) The court may direct that any document is to be provided on an edited basis.

Acknowledgment of notification of permission application
    
57. —(1) Any person who is notified of an application for permission and who wishes to take part in the permission hearing must file an acknowledgment of notification in accordance with the following provisions of this rule.

    (2) The acknowledgment of notification must be filed not more than 21 days after notice of the application was given.

    (3) The court will serve the acknowledgment of notification on the applicant and on any other person who has filed such an acknowledgment.

    (4) The acknowledgment of notification must—

    (5) The acknowledgment of notification may include or be accompanied by an application for directions.

    (6) Subject to rules 120 and 123 (restrictions on filing an expert's report and court's power to restrict expert evidence), where a person opposes the application for permission or proposes that permission is granted for a different order, the acknowledgment of notification must be accompanied by a witness statement containing any evidence upon which that person intends to rely.

Failure to file acknowledgment of notification
    
58. Where a person notified of the application for permission has not filed an acknowledgment of notification in accordance with rule 57, he may not take part in a hearing to decide whether permission should be given unless the court permits him to do so.

Service of an order giving or refusing permission
    
59. The court will serve—

on the applicant and on any other person notified of the application who filed an acknowledgment of notification.

Appeal against a permission decision following a hearing
    
60. Where the court grants or refuses permission following a hearing, any appeal against the permission decision shall be dealt with in accordance with Part 20 (appeals).



PART 9

HOW TO START PROCEEDINGS

Initial steps

General
    
61. —(1) Applications to the court to start proceedings shall be made in accordance with this Part and, as applicable, Part 8 and the relevant practice directions.

    (2) The appropriate forms must be used in the cases to which they apply, with such variations as the case requires, but not so as to omit any information or guidance which any form gives to the intended recipient.

    (3) If permission to make an application is required, the court shall not issue the application form until permission is granted.

When proceedings are started
    
62. —(1) The general rule is that proceedings are started when the court issues an application form at the request of the applicant.

    (2) An application form is issued on the date entered on the application form by the court.

Contents of the application form
    
63. The application form must—

Documents to be filed with the application form
    
64. When an applicant files his application form with the court, he must also file—

What the court will do when an application form is filed
    
65. As soon as practicable after an application form is filed the court will issue the application form in any case where permission—

do anything else that may be set out in a practice direction.

Steps following issue of application form

Applicant to serve the application form on named respondents
    
66. —(1) As soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which the application form was issued, the applicant must serve a copy of the application form on any person who is named as a respondent in the application form, together with copies of any documents filed in accordance with rule 64 and a form for acknowledging service.

    (2) The applicant must file a certificate of service within 7 days beginning with the date on which the documents were served.

Applications relating to lasting powers of attorney
    
67. —(1) Where the application concerns the powers of the court under section 22 or 23 of the Act (powers of the court in relation to the validity and operation of lasting powers of attorney) the applicant must serve a copy of the application form, together with copies of any documents filed in accordance with rule 64 and a form for acknowledging service—

but only if the above-mentioned persons have not been served or notified under any other rule.

    (2) Where the application is solely in respect of an objection to the registration of a power, the requirements of rules 66 and 70 do not apply to an application made under this rule by—

    (3) The applicant must comply with paragraph (1) as soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of date on which the application form was issued.

    (4) The applicant must file a certificate of service within 7 days beginning with the date on which the documents were served.

    (5) Where the applicant knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that the donor of the power lacks capacity to make a decision in relation to any matter that is the subject of the application, he must notify the donor in accordance with Part 7.

Applications relating to enduring powers of attorney
    
68. —(1) Where the application concerns the powers of the court under paragraphs 2(9), 4(5)(a) and (b), 7(2), 10(c), 13, or 16(2), (3), (4) and (6) of Schedule 4 to the Act, the applicant must serve a copy of the application form, together with copies of any documents filed in accordance with rule 64 and a form for acknowledging service—

but only if the above-mentioned persons have not been served or notified under any other rule.

    (2) Where the application is solely in respect of an objection to the registration of a power, the requirements of rules 66 and 70 do not apply to an application made under this rule by—

    (3) The applicant must comply with paragraph (1) as soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which the application form was issued.

    (4) The applicant must file a certificate of service within 7 days beginning with the date on which the documents were served.

    (5) Where the applicant knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that the donor of the power lacks capacity to make a decision in relation to any matter that is the subject of the application, he must notify the donor in accordance with Part 7.

Applicant to notify P of an application
    
69. P must be notified in accordance with Part 7 that an application form has been issued, unless the requirement to do so has been dispensed with under rule 49.

Applicant to notify other persons of an application
    
70. —(1) As soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which the application form was issued, the applicant must notify the persons specified in the relevant practice direction—

    (2) Notification of the issue of the application form must be accompanied by a form for acknowledging notification.

    (3) The applicant must file a certificate of notification within 7 days beginning with the date on which notification was given.

Requirements for certain applications
    
71. A practice direction may make additional or different provision in relation to specified applications.

Responding to an application

Responding to an application
    
72. —(1) A person who is served with or notified of an application form and who wishes to take part in proceedings must file an acknowledgment of service or notification in accordance with this rule.

    (2) The acknowledgment of service or notification must be filed not more than 21 days after the application form was served or notification of the application was given.

    (3) The court will serve the acknowledgment of service or notification on the applicant and on any other person who has filed such an acknowledgment.

    (4) The acknowledgment of service or notification must—

    (5) Subject to rules 120 and 123 (restriction on filing an expert's report and court's power to restrict expert evidence), where a person who has been served in accordance with rule 66, 67 or 68 opposes the application or seeks a different order, the acknowledgment of service must be accompanied by a witness statement containing any evidence upon which that person intends to rely.

    (6) In addition to complying with the other requirements of this rule, an acknowledgment of notification filed by a person notified of the application in accordance with rule 67(5), 68(5), 69 or 70 must—

    (7) Subject to rules 120 and 123 (restriction on filing an expert's report and court's power to restrict expert evidence), where a person has been notified in accordance with rule 67(5), 68(5), 69, 70, the acknowledgment of notification must be accompanied by a witness statement containing any evidence of his interest in the proceedings and, if he opposes the application or seeks a different order, any evidence upon which he intends to rely.

    (8) The court will consider whether to join a person mentioned in paragraph (6) as a party to the proceedings and, if it decides to do so, will make an order to that effect.

    (9) Where a person who is notified in accordance with rule 67(5), 68(5), 69 or 70 complies with the requirements of this rule, he need not comply with the requirements of rule 75 (application to be joined as a party).

    (10) Where a person has filed an acknowledgment of notification in accordance with rule 57 (acknowledgment of notification of permission application) he must still acknowledge service or notification of an issued application form in accordance with this rule.

    (11) A practice direction may make provision about responding to applications.

The parties to the proceedings

Parties to the proceedings
    
73. —(1) Unless the court otherwise directs, the parties to any proceedings are—

    (2) The court may order a person to be joined as a party if it considers that it is desirable to do so for the purpose of dealing with the application.

    (3) The court may at any time direct that any person who is a party to the proceedings is to be removed as a party.

    (4) Unless the court orders otherwise, P shall not be named as a respondent to any proceedings.

    (5) A party to the proceedings is bound by any order or direction of the court made in the course of those proceedings.

Persons to be bound as if parties
    
74. —(1) The persons mentioned in paragraph (2) shall be bound by any order made or directions given by the court in the same way that a party to the proceedings is so bound.

    (2) The persons referred to in paragraph (1) are—

Application to be joined as a party
    
75. —(1) Any person with sufficient interest may apply to the court to be joined as a party to the proceedings.

    (2) An application to be joined as a party must be made by filing an application notice in accordance with Part 10 which must—

    (3) Subject to rules 120 and 123 (restriction on filing an expert's report and court's power to restrict expert evidence), an application to be joined must be accompanied by—

    (4) The court will serve the application notice and any accompanying documents on all parties to the proceedings.

    (5) The court will consider whether to join a person applying under this rule as a party to the proceedings and, if it decides to do so, will make an order to that effect.

Applications for removal as a party to proceedings
    
76. A person who wishes to be removed as a party to the proceedings must apply to the court for an order to that effect in accordance with Part 10.



PART 10

APPLICATIONS WITHIN PROCEEDINGS

Types of applications for which the Part 10 procedure may be used
    
77. —(1) The Part 10 procedure is the procedure set out in this Part.

    (2) The Part 10 procedure may be used if the application is made by any person—

    (3) The court may grant an interim remedy before an application form has been issued only if—

    (4) An application made during the course of existing proceedings includes an application made during appeal proceedings.

Application notice to be filed
    
78. —(1) Subject to paragraph (5), the applicant must file an application notice to make an application under this Part.

    (2) The applicant must, when he files the application notice, file the evidence upon which he relies (unless such evidence has already been filed).

    (3) The court will issue the application notice and, if there is to be a hearing, give notice of the date on which the matter is to be heard by the court.

    (4) Notice under paragraph (3) must be given to—

    (5) An applicant may make an application under this Part without filing an application notice if—

    (6) If the applicant makes an application without giving notice, the evidence in support of the application must state why notice has not been given.

What an application notice must include
    
79. An application notice must state—

Service of an application notice
    
80. —(1) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), the applicant must serve a copy of the application notice on—

as soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which it was issued.

    (2) The application notice must be accompanied by a copy of the evidence filed in support.

    (3) The applicant must file a certificate of service within 7 days beginning with the date on which the documents were served.

    (4) This rule does not require a copy of evidence to be served on a person upon whom it has already been served, but the applicant must in such a case give to that person notice of the evidence upon which he intends to rely.

    (5) An application may be made without serving a copy of the application notice if this is permitted by—

Applications without notice
    
81. —(1) This rule applies where the court has dealt with an application which was made without notice having been given to any person.

    (2) Where the court makes an order, whether granting or dismissing the application, the applicant must, as soon as practicable or within such period as the court may direct, serve the documents mentioned in paragraph (3) on—

    (3) The documents referred to in paragraph (2) are—

(Rule 89 provides for reconsideration of orders made without a hearing or without notice to a person.)

Interim Remedies

Orders for interim remedies
    
82. —(1) The court may grant the following interim remedies—

    (2) Unless the court orders otherwise, a person on whom an application form is served under Part 9, or who is given notice of such an application, may not apply for an interim remedy before he has filed an acknowledgment of service or notification in accordance with Part 9.

    (3) This rule does not limit any other power of the court to grant interim relief.



PART 11

HUMAN RIGHTS

General
    
83. —(1) A party who seeks to rely upon any provision of or right arising under the Human Rights Act 1998 ("the 1998 Act")[12] or who seeks a remedy available under that Act must inform the court in the manner set out in the relevant practice direction specifying—

    (2) The court may not make a declaration of incompatibility unless 21 days' notice, or such other period of notice as the court directs, has been given to the Crown.

    (3) Where notice has been given to the Crown, a Minister or other person permitted by the 1998 Act will be joined as a party on filing an application in accordance with rule 75 (application to be joined as a party).



PART 12

DEALING WITH APPLICATIONS

Dealing with the application
     84. —(1) As soon as practicable after any application has been issued the court shall consider how to deal with it.

    (2) The court may deal with an application or any part of an application at a hearing or without a hearing.

    (3) In considering whether it is necessary to hold a hearing, the court shall, as appropriate, have regard to—

    (4) Where the court considers that a hearing is necessary, it will—

    (5) Where the court decides that it can deal with the matter without a hearing it will do so and serve a copy of its order on the parties and on any other person it directs.

Directions
    
85. —(1) The court may—

    (2) When giving directions, the court may do any of the following—

    (3) The court may give directions at any time—

    (4) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6) and unless these Rules or a practice direction provide otherwise or the court directs otherwise, the time specified by a rule or by the court for a person to do any act may be varied by the written agreement of the parties.

    (5) A party must apply to the court if he wishes to vary –

    (6) The time specified by a rule or practice direction or by the court may not be varied by the parties if the variation would make it necessary to vary the date the court has fixed for any hearing or the period within which the final hearing is to take place.

Allocation of proceedings

Court's jurisdiction in certain kinds of case to be exercised by certain judges
    
86. —(1) The court will consider whether the application is of a type specified in the relevant practice direction as being one which must be dealt with by—

    (2) The practice direction made under this rule shall specify the categories of case which must be dealt with by a judge mentioned in paragraph (1).

    (3) Applications in any matter other than those specified in the relevant practice direction may be dealt with by any judge.

Disputing the jurisdiction of the court

Procedure for disputing the court's jurisdiction
    
87. —(1) A person who wishes to—

may apply to the court at any time for an order declaring that it has no such jurisdiction or should not exercise any jurisdiction that it may have.

    (2) An application under this rule must be—

    (3) An order containing a declaration that the court has no jurisdiction or will not exercise its jurisdiction may also make further provision, including—

Participation in hearings
    
88. —(1) The court may hear P on the question of whether or not an order should be made, whether or not he is a party to the proceedings.

    (2) The court may proceed with a hearing in the absence of P if it considers that it would be appropriate to do so.

    (3) A person other than P who is served with or notified of the application may only take part in a hearing if—

Orders made without a hearing or without notice to any person
    
89. —(1) This rule applies where the court makes an order—

    (2) Where this rule applies—

may apply to the court for reconsideration of the order made.

    (3) An application under paragraph (2) must be made—

    (4) The court will—

    (5) Where an application is made in accordance with this rule, the court may affirm, set aside or vary any order made.

    (6) Reconsideration may be by any judge of the court—

    (7) No application may be made seeking a reconsideration of a decision that has been made under paragraph (5).

    (8) An appeal against a decision made under paragraph (5) may be made in accordance with Part 20 (appeals).

    (9) Any order made without a hearing or without notice to any person, other than one made under paragraph (5), must contain a statement of the right to apply for a reconsideration of the decision in accordance with this rule.

    (10) An application made under this rule may include a request that the court reconsider the matter at a hearing.



PART 13

HEARINGS

Private hearings

General rule – hearing to be in private
    
90. —(1) The general rule is that a hearing is to be held in private.

    (2) A private hearing is a hearing which only the following persons are entitled to attend—

    (3) In relation to a private hearing, the court may make an order—

Court's general power to authorise publication of information about proceedings
    
91. —(1) For the purposes of the law relating to contempt of court, information relating to proceedings held in private may be published where the court makes an order under paragraph (2).

    (2) The court may make an order authorising—

    (3) Where the court makes an order under paragraph (2) it may do so on such terms as it thinks fit, and in particular may—

Court's power to order that a hearing be held in public
    
92. —(1) The court may make an order—

    (2) Where the court makes an order under paragraph (1), it may in the same order or by a subsequent order—

Supplementary provisions relating to public or private hearings
    
93. —(1) An order under rule 90, 91 or 92 may be made—

    (2) A practice direction may make further provision in connection with—



PART 14

ADMISSIONS, EVIDENCE AND DEPOSITIONS

Admissions

Making an admission
    
94. —(1) Without prejudice to the ability to make an admission in any other way, a party may admit the truth of the whole or part of another party's case by giving notice in writing.

    (2) The court may allow a party to amend or withdraw an admission.

Evidence

Power of court to control evidence
    
95. The court may—

Evidence of witnesses – general rule
    
96. —(1) The general rule is that any fact which needs to be proved by evidence of a witness is to be proved—

    (2) Where a witness is called to give oral evidence under paragraph (1)(a), his witness statement shall stand as his evidence in chief unless the court directs otherwise.

    (3) A witness giving oral evidence at the final hearing may, if the court permits—

    (4) The court may so permit only if it considers that there is good reason not to confine the evidence of the witness to the contents of his witness statement.

    (5) This rule is subject to—

Written evidence – general rule
    
97. A party may not rely upon written evidence unless—

Evidence by video link or other means
    
98. The court may allow a witness to give evidence through a video link or by other communication technology.

Service of witness statements for use at final hearing
    
99. —(1) A witness statement is a written statement which contains the evidence which that person would be allowed to give orally.

    (2) The court will give directions about the service of any witness statement that a party intends to rely upon at the final hearing.

    (3) The court may give directions as to the order in which witness statements are to be served.

(Rules 11 and 100 require witness statements to be verified by a statement of truth.)

Form of witness statement
    
100. A witness statement must contain a statement of truth and comply with the requirements set out in the relevant practice direction.

Witness summaries
    
101. —(1) A party who wishes to file a witness statement for use at final hearing, but is unable to do so, may apply, without notice, to be permitted to file a witness summary instead.

    (2) A witness summary is a summary of—

    (3) Unless the court directs otherwise, a witness summary must include the name and address of the intended witness.

    (4) Unless the court directs otherwise, a witness summary must be filed within the period in which a witness statement would have had to be filed.

    (5) Where a party files a witness summary, so far as practicable, rules 96(3)(a) (amplifying witness statements) and 99 (service of witness statements for use at a final hearing) shall apply to the summary.

Affidavit evidence
    
102. Evidence must be given by affidavit instead of or in addition to a witness statement if this is required by the court, a provision contained in any rule, a practice direction or any other enactment.

Form of affidavit
    
103. An affidavit must comply with the requirements set out in the relevant practice direction.

Affidavit made outside the jurisdiction
    
104. A person may make an affidavit outside the jurisdiction in accordance with—

Notarial acts and instruments
    
105. A notarial act or instrument may, without further proof, be received in evidence as duly authenticated in accordance with the requirements of law unless the contrary is proved.

Summoning of witnesses
    
106. —(1) The court may allow or direct any party to issue a witness summons requiring the person named in it to attend before the court and give oral evidence or produce any document to the court.

    (2) An application by a party for the issue of a witness summons may be made by filing an application notice which includes—

    (3) The general rule is that a witness summons is binding if it is served at least 7 days before the date on which the witness is required to attend before the court, and the requirements of paragraph (6) have been complied with.

    (4) The court may direct that a witness summons shall be binding although it will be served less than 7 days before the date on which the witness is required to attend before the court.

    (5) Unless the court directs otherwise, a witness summons is to be served by the person making the application.

    (6) At the time of service the witness must be offered or paid—

    (7) The court may order that the witness is to be paid such general costs as it considers appropriate.

Power of court to direct a party to provide information
    
107. —(1) Where a party has access to information which is not reasonably available to the other party, the court may direct that party to prepare and file a document recording the information.

    (2) The court will give directions about serving a copy of that document on the other parties.

Depositions

Evidence by deposition
    
108. —(1) A party may apply for an order for a person to be examined before the hearing takes place.

    (2) A person from whom evidence is to be obtained following an order under this rule is referred to as a "deponent" and the evidence is referred to as a "deposition".

    (3) An order under this rule shall be for a deponent to be examined on oath before—

    (4) The order may require the production of any document which the court considers is necessary for the purposes of the examination.

    (5) The order will state the date, time and place of the examination.

    (6) At the time of service of the order, the deponent must be offered or paid—

    (7) Where the court makes an order for a deposition to be taken, it may also order the party who obtained the order to file a witness statement or witness summary in relation to the evidence to be given by the person to be examined.

Conduct of examination
    
109. —(1) Subject to any directions contained in the order for examination, the examination must be conducted in the same way as if the witness were giving evidence at a final hearing.

    (2) If all the parties are present, the examiner may conduct the examination of a person not named in the order for examination if all the parties and the person to be examined consent.

    (3) The examiner must ensure that the evidence given by the witness is recorded in full.

    (4) The examiner must send a copy of the deposition—

    (5) The court will give directions as to the service of a copy of the deposition on the other parties.

Fees and expenses of examiners of the court
    
110. —(1) An examiner of the court may charge a fee for the examination and he need not send the deposition to the court until the fee is paid, unless the court directs otherwise.

    (2) The examiner's fees and expenses must be paid by the party who obtained the order for examination.

    (3) If the fees and expenses due to an examiner are not paid within a reasonable time, he may report that fact to the court.

    (4) The court may order the party who obtained the order for examination to deposit in the court office a specified sum in respect of the examiner's fees and, where it does so, the examiner will not be asked to act until the sum has been deposited.

    (5) An order under this rule does not affect any decision as to the person who is ultimately to bear the costs of the examination.

Examiners of the court
    
111. —(1) The Lord Chancellor shall appoint persons to be examiners of the court.

    (2) The persons appointed shall be barristers or solicitor-advocates who have been practising for a period of not less than 3 years.

    (3) The Lord Chancellor may revoke an appointment at any time.

    (4) In addition to appointing persons in accordance with this rule, examiners appointed under rule 34.15 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 may act as examiners in the court.

Enforcing attendance of a witness
    
112. —(1) If a person served with an order to attend before an examiner—

a certificate of his failure or refusal, signed by the examiner, must be filed by the party requiring the deposition.

    (2) On the certificate being filed, the party requiring the deposition may apply to the court for an order requiring that person to attend or to be sworn or to answer any question or produce any document, as the case may be.

    (3) An application for an order under this rule may be made without notice.

    (4) The court may order the person against whom an order is sought or made under this rule to pay any costs resulting from his failure or refusal.

Use of deposition at a hearing
    
113. —(1) A deposition ordered under rule 108, 115 or 116 may be put in evidence at a hearing unless the court orders otherwise.

    (2) A party intending to put a deposition in evidence at a hearing must file notice of his intention to do so on the court and serve the notice on every other party.

    (3) Unless the court directs otherwise, he must file the notice at least 14 days before the day fixed for the hearing.

    (4) The court may require a deponent to attend the hearing and give evidence orally.

Taking evidence outside the jurisdiction

Interpretation
    
114. In this Section—

Where a person to be examined is in another Regulation State
     115. —(1) This rule applies where a party wishes to take a deposition from a person who is—

    (2) The court may order the issue of the request to a designated court ("the requested court") in the Regulation State in which the proposed deponent is.

    (3) If the court makes an order for the issue of a request, the party who sought the order must file—

    (4) There is no need to file a translation if—

    (5) Where article 17 of the Taking of Evidence Regulation (direct taking of evidence by the requested court) allows evidence to be taken directly in another Regulation State, the court may make an order for the submission of a request in accordance with that article.

    (6) If the court makes an order for the submission of a request under paragraph (5), the party who sought the order must file—

Where a person to be examined is out of the jurisdiction – letter of request
    
116. —(1) This rule applies where a party wishes to take a deposition from a person who is—

    (2) The court may order the issue of a letter of request to the judicial authorities of the country in which the proposed deponent is.

    (3) A letter of request is a request to a judicial authority to take the evidence of that person, or arrange for it to be taken.

    (4) If the government of a country permits a person appointed by the court to examine a person in that country, the court may make an order appointing a special examiner for that purpose.

    (5) A person may be examined under this rule on oath or affirmation in accordance with any procedure permitted in the country in which the examination is to take place.

    (6) If the court makes an order for the issue of a letter of request, the party who sought the order must file—

    (7) There is no need to file a translation if—

Reports under section 49 of the Act
    
117. —(1) This rule applies where the court requires a report to be made to it under section 49 of the Act.

    (2) It is the duty of the person who is required to make the report to help the court on the matters within his expertise.

    (3) Unless the court directs otherwise, the person making the report must—

    (4) The court will send a copy of the report to the parties and to such persons as the court may direct.

    (5) Subject to paragraphs (6) and (7), the person who is required to make the report may examine and take copies of any document in the court records.

    (6) The court may direct that the right to inspect documents under this rule does not apply in relation to such documents, or descriptions of documents, as the court may specify.

    (7) The court may direct that any information is to be provided to the maker of the report on an edited basis.

Written questions to person making a report under section 49
    
118. —(1) Where a report is made under section 49 the court may, on the application of any party, permit written questions relevant to the issues before the court to be put to the person by whom the report was made.

    (2) The questions sought to be put to the maker of the report shall be submitted to the court, and the court may put them to the maker of the report with such amendments (if any) as it thinks fit and the maker of the report shall give his replies in writing to the questions so put.

    (3) The court will send a copy of the replies given by the maker of the report under this rule to the parties and to such other persons as the court may direct.



PART 15

EXPERTS

References to expert
    
119. A reference to an expert in this Part—

Restriction on filing an expert's report
    
120. —(1) No person may file expert evidence unless the court or a practice direction permits, or if it is filed with the permission form or application form and is evidence—

    (2) An applicant may only rely upon any expert evidence so filed in support of the permission form or application form to the extent and for the purposes that the court allows.

(Rule 64(a) requires the applicant to file any evidence upon which he wishes to rely with the application form and rule 54 requires certain documents to be filed with the application for permission form.)

Duty to restrict expert evidence
    
121. Expert evidence shall be restricted to that which is reasonably required to resolve the proceedings.

Experts – overriding duty to the court
    
122. It is the duty of the expert to help the court on the matters within his expertise.

Court's power to restrict expert evidence
    
123. —(1) Subject to rule 120, no party may file or adduce expert evidence unless the court or a practice direction permits.

    (2) When a party applies for a direction under this rule he must—

    (3) Where a direction is given under this rule, the court shall specify the field or fields in respect of which the expert evidence is to be provided.

    (4) The court may specify the person who is to provide the evidence referred to in paragraph (3).

    (5) Where a direction is given under this rule for a party to call an expert or put in evidence an expert's report, the court shall give directions for the service of the report on the parties and on such other persons as the court may direct.

    (6) The court may limit the amount of the expert's fees and expenses that the party who wishes to rely upon the expert may recover from any other party.

General requirement for expert evidence to be given in a written report
    
124. Expert evidence is to be given in a written report unless the court directs otherwise.

Written questions to experts
    
125. —(1) A party may put written questions to—

about a report prepared by such person.

    (2) Written questions under paragraph (1)—

    (3) Paragraph (2) does not apply in any case where—

    (4) An expert's answers to questions put in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be treated as part of the expert's report.

    (5) Paragraph (6) applies where—

    (6) The court may make one or both of the following orders in relation to the party who instructed the expert—

    (7) Unless the court otherwise directs, and subject to any final costs order that may be made, the instructing party is responsible for the payment of the expert's fees and expenses, including the expert's costs of answering questions put by any other party.

Contents of expert's report
    
126. —(1) The court may give directions as to the matters to be covered in an expert's report.

    (2) An expert's report must comply with the requirements set out in the relevant practice direction.

    (3) At the end of an expert's report there must be a statement that—

    (4) The expert's report must state the substance of all material instructions, whether written or oral, on the basis of which the report was written.

    (5) The instructions to the expert shall not be privileged against disclosure.

Use by one party of expert's report disclosed by another
    
127. Where a party has disclosed an expert's report, any party may use that expert's report as evidence at any hearing in the proceedings.

Discussions between experts
    
128. —(1) The court may, at any stage, direct a discussion between experts for the purpose of requiring the experts to—

    (2) The court may specify the issues which the experts must discuss.

    (3) The court may direct that following a discussion between the experts they must prepare a statement for the court showing—

    (4) Unless the court otherwise directs, the content of the discussions between experts may be referred to at any hearing or at any stage in the proceedings.

Expert's right to ask court for directions
    
129. —(1) An expert may file a written request for directions to assist him in carrying out his function as an expert.

    (2) An expert must, unless the court directs otherwise, provide a copy of any proposed request for directions under paragraph (1)—

    (3) The court, when it gives directions, may also direct that a party be served with a copy of the directions.

Court's power to direct that evidence is to be given by a single joint expert
    
130. —(1) Where two or more parties wish to submit expert evidence on a particular issue, the court may direct that the evidence on that issue is to be given by one expert only.

    (2) The parties wishing to submit the expert evidence are called ‘the instructing parties'.

    (3) Where the instructing parties cannot agree who should be the expert, the court may—

Instructions to a single joint expert
    
131. —(1) Where the court gives a direction under rule 130 for a single joint expert to be used, each party may give instructions to the expert.

    (2) Unless the court otherwise directs, when an instructing party gives instructions to the expert he must, at the same time, send a copy of the instructions to the other instructing parties.

    (3) The court may give directions about—

    (4) The court may, before an expert is instructed, limit the amount that can be paid by way of fees and expenses to the expert.

    (5) Unless the court otherwise directs, and subject to any final costs order that may be made, the instructing parties are jointly and severally liable for the payment of the expert's fees and expenses.



PART 16

DISCLOSURE

Meaning of disclosure
    
132. A party discloses a document by stating that the document exists or has existed.

General or specific disclosure
    
133. —(1) The court may either on its own initiative or on the application of a party make an order to give general or specific disclosure.

    (2) General disclosure requires a party to disclose—

    (3) An order for specific disclosure is an order that a party must do one or more of the following things—

    (4) A party's duty to disclose documents is limited to documents which are or have been in his control.

    (5) For the purpose of paragraph (4) a party has or has had a document in his control if—

Procedure for general or specific disclosure
    
134. —(1) This rule applies where the court makes an order under rule 133 to give general or specific disclosure.

    (2) Each party must make, and serve on every other party, a list of documents to be disclosed.

    (3) A copy of each list must be filed within 7 days of the date on which it is served.

    (4) The list must identify the documents in a convenient order and manner and as concisely as possible.

    (5) The list must indicate—

Ongoing duty of disclosure
    
135. —(1) Where the court makes an order to give general or specific disclosure under rule 133, any party to whom the order applies is under a continuing duty to provide such disclosure as is required by the order until the proceedings are concluded.

    (2) If a document to which the duty of disclosure imposed by paragraph (1) extends comes to a party's notice at any time during the proceedings, he must immediately notify every other party.

Right to inspect documents
    
136. —(1) A party to whom a document has been disclosed has a right to inspect any document disclosed to him except where—

    (2) The right to inspect disclosed documents extends to any document mentioned in—

Inspection and copying of documents
    
137. —(1) Where a party has a right to inspect a document, he—

    (2) Not more than 14 days after the date on which the party who disclosed the document received the notice under paragraph (1)(a), he must permit inspection of the document at a convenient place and time.

    (3) Where a party has requested a copy of the document, the party who disclosed the document must supply him with a copy not more than 14 days after the date on which he received the request.

    (4) For the purposes of paragraph (2), the party who disclosed the document must give reasonable notice of the time and place for inspection.

    (5) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the party requesting a copy of the document is responsible for the payment of reasonable copying costs, subject to any final costs order that may be made.

Claim to withhold inspection or disclosure of document
    
138. —(1) A party who wishes to claim that he has a right or duty to withhold inspection of a document, or part of a document, must state in writing—

    (2) The statement must be made in the list in which the document is disclosed (see rule 134(2)).

    (3) A party may, by filing an application notice in accordance with Part 10, apply to the court to decide whether the claim made under paragraph (1) should be upheld.

Consequence of failure to disclose documents or permit inspection
    
139. A party may not rely upon any document which he fails to disclose or in respect of which he fails to permit inspection unless the court permits.



PART 17

LITIGATION FRIEND

Who may act as a litigation friend
    
140. —(1) A person may act as a litigation friend on behalf of a person mentioned in paragraph (2) if he—

    (2) The persons for whom a litigation friend may act are—

Requirement for a litigation friend
    
141. —(1) Subject to rule 147, P (if a party to proceedings) must have a litigation friend.

    (2) A protected party (if a party to the proceedings) must have a litigation friend.

    (3) A child (if a party to proceedings) must have a litigation friend to conduct those proceedings on his behalf unless the court makes an order under paragraph (4).

    (4) The court may make an order permitting the child to conduct proceedings without a litigation friend.

    (5) An application for an order under paragraph (4)—

    (6) Where—

the court may appoint a person to be the child's litigation friend.

Litigation friend without a court order
    
142. —(1) This rule does not apply—

    (2) A deputy with the power to conduct legal proceedings in the name of the protected party or on the protected party's behalf is entitled to be a litigation friend of the protected party in any proceedings to which his power relates.

    (3) If no one has been appointed by the court, or in the case of a protected party, there is no deputy with the power to conduct proceedings, a person who wishes to act as a litigation friend must—

    (4) If the person referred to in paragraph (2) wishes to act as a litigation friend for the protected party, he must file and serve a copy of the court order which appointed him on those persons mentioned in paragraph (3)(b).

Litigation friend by court order
    
143. —(1) The court may make an order appointing—

to act as a litigation friend.

    (2) The court may act under paragraph (1)—

    (3) An application for an order under paragraph (1) must be supported by evidence.

    (4) The court may not appoint a litigation friend under this rule unless it is satisfied that the person to be appointed satisfies the conditions specified in rule 140(1).

    (5) The court may at any stage of the proceedings give directions as to the appointment of a litigation friend.

Court's power to prevent a person from acting as litigation friend or to order change
    
144. —(1) The court may either on its own initiative or on the application of any person—

    (2) An application for an order under paragraph (1) must be supported by evidence.

    (3) The court may not appoint a litigation friend under this rule unless it is satisfied that the person to be appointed satisfies the conditions specified in rule 140(1).

Appointment of litigation friend by court order – supplementary
    
145. The applicant must serve a copy of an application for an order under rule 143 or 144 on—

as soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which it was issued.

Procedure where appointment of litigation friend comes to an end – for a child or protected party
    
146. —(1) This rule applies—

    (2) Where paragraph (1)(a) applies, the litigation friend's appointment ends.

    (3) Where paragraph (1)(b) applies, the litigation friend's appointment continues until it is brought to an end by a court order

    (4) An application for an order under paragraph (3) may be made by—

    (5) The applicant must serve a copy of the application notice seeking an order under this rule on all parties to the proceedings as soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which it was issued.

    (6) Where paragraph (2) applies the child must serve notice on every other party—

    (7) Where paragraph (3) applies, the former protected party must provide his address for service to all other parties to the proceedings.

Procedure where appointment of litigation friend comes to an end – for P
    
147. —(1) This rule applies where P ceases to be a person who lacks capacity to conduct the proceedings himself but continues to lack capacity in relation to the matter or matters to which the application relates.

    (2) The litigation friend's appointment continues until it is brought to an end by a court order.

    (3) An application for an order under paragraph (2) may be made by—

    (4) The applicant must serve a copy of the application notice seeking an order under this rule on all other parties to the proceedings as soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which it was issued.

    (5) Where the court makes an order under this rule, P must provide his address for service to all other parties to the proceedings.

Procedure where P ceases to lack capacity
    
148. —(1) This rule applies where P ceases to lack capacity both to conduct the proceedings himself and in relation to the matter or matters to which the application relates.

    (2) The litigation friend's appointment continues until it is brought to an end by a court order.

    (3) An application may be made by—

for the proceedings to come to an end.

    (4) The applicant must serve a copy of the application notice seeking an order under this rule on all parties to the proceedings as soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which it was issued.

Practice direction in relation to litigation friends
    
149. A practice direction may make additional or different provision in relation to litigation friends.



PART 18

CHANGE OF SOLICITOR

Change of solicitor
    
150. —(1) This rule applies where a party to proceedings—

    (2) The party proposing the change must—

    (3) The notice must state the party's address for service.

    (4) The notice filed at court must state that it has been served as required by paragraph (2)(b).

    (5) Where there is a solicitor who will cease to act, he will continue to be considered the party's solicitor unless and until—

LSC funded clients
    
151. —(1) Where the certificate of any person ("A") who is an LSC funded client is revoked or discharged—

    (2) In this rule, "certificate" means a certificate issued under the Funding Code (approved under section 9 of the Access to Justice Act 1999[15]).

Order that a solicitor has ceased to act
     152. —(1) A solicitor may apply for an order declaring that he has ceased to be the solicitor acting for a party.

    (2) Where an application is made under this rule—

    (3) Where the court makes an order that a solicitor has ceased to act, the solicitor must—

Removal of solicitor who has ceased to act on application of another party
    
153. —(1) Where—

any other party may apply for an order declaring that the solicitor has ceased to be the solicitor acting for the other party in the case.

    (2) Where an application is made under this rule, the applicant must serve the application on the party to whose solicitor the application relates, unless the court directs otherwise.

    (3) Where the court makes an order under this rule—

Practice direction relating to change of solicitor
    
154. A practice direction may make additional or different provision in relation to change of solicitor.



PART 19

COSTS

Interpretation
    
155. —(1) In this Part—

    (2) The costs to which the rules in this Part apply include—

    (3) Where advocacy or litigation services are provided to a client under a conditional fee agreement, costs are recoverable under this Part notwithstanding that the client is liable to pay his legal representative's fees and expenses only to the extent that sums are recovered in respect of the proceedings, whether by way of costs or otherwise.

    (4) In paragraph (3), the reference to a conditional fee agreement is to an agreement which satisfies all the conditions applicable to it by virtue of section 58 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990[17].

Property and affairs – the general rule
     156. Where the proceedings concern P's property and affairs the general rule is that the costs of the proceedings or of that part of the proceedings that concerns P's property and affairs, shall be paid by P or charged to his estate.

Personal welfare – the general rule
    
157. Where the proceedings concern P's personal welfare the general rule is that there will be no order as to the costs of the proceedings or of that part of the proceedings that concerns P's personal welfare.

Apportioning costs – the general rule
    
158. Where the proceedings concern both property and affairs and personal welfare the court, insofar as practicable, will apportion the costs as between the respective issues.

Departing from the general rule
    
159. —(1) The court may depart from rules 156 to 158 if the circumstances so justify, and in deciding whether departure is justified the court will have regard to all the circumstances, including–

    (2) The conduct of the parties includes–

    (3) Without prejudice to rules 156 to 158 and the foregoing provisions of this rule, the court may permit a party to recover their fixed costs in accordance with the relevant practice direction.

Rules about costs in the Civil Procedure Rules to apply
    
160. —(1) Subject to the provisions of these Rules, Parts 44, 47 and 48 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 ("the 1998 Rules") shall apply with the modifications in this rule and such other modifications as may be appropriate, to costs incurred in relation to proceedings under these Rules as they apply to costs incurred in relation to proceedings in the High Court.

    (2) The provisions of Part 47 of the 1998 Rules shall apply with the modifications in this rule and such other modifications as may be appropriate, to a detailed assessment of the remuneration of a deputy under these Rules as they apply to a detailed assessment of costs in proceedings to which the 1998 Rules apply.

    (3) Where the definitions in Part 43 (referred to in Parts 44, 47 and 48) of the 1998 Rules are different from the definitions in rule 155 of these Rules, the latter shall prevail.

    (4) Rules 44.1, 44.3(1) to (5), 44.6, 44.7, 44.9, 44.10, 44.11. 44.12 and 44.12A of the 1998 Rules do not apply.

    (5) In rule 44.17 of the 1998 Rules, the references to Parts 45 and 46 do not apply.

    (6) In rule 47.3(1)(c) of the 1998 Rules, the words "unless the costs are being assessed under rule 48.5 (costs where money is payable to a child or a patient)" are removed.

    (7) In rule 47.3(2) of the 1998 Rules, the words "or a district judge" are removed.

    (8) Rule 47.4(3) and (4) of the 1998 Rules do not apply.

    (9) Rules 47.9(4), 47.10 and 47.11 of the 1998 Rules do not apply where the costs are to be paid by P or charged to his estate.

    (10) Rules 48.2, 48.3, 48.6A, and 48.10 of the 1998 Rules do not apply.

    (11) Rule 48.1(1) of the 1998 Rules is removed and is replaced by the following: "This paragraph applies where a person applies for an order for specific disclosure before the commencement of proceedings".

Detailed assessment of costs
    
161. —(1) Where the court orders costs to be assessed by way of detailed assessment, the detailed assessment proceedings shall take place in the High Court.

    (2) A fee is payable in respect of the detailed assessment of costs and on an appeal against a decision made in a detailed assessment of costs.

    (3) Where a detailed assessment of costs has taken place, the amount payable by P is the amount which the court certifies as payable.

Employment of a solicitor by two or more persons
    
162. Where two or more persons having the same interest in relation to a matter act in relation to the proceedings by separate legal representatives, they shall not be permitted more than one set of costs of the representation unless and to the extent that the court certifies that the circumstances justify separate representation.

Costs of the Official Solicitor
    
163. Any costs incurred by the Official Solicitor in relation to proceedings under these Rules or in carrying out any directions given by the court and not provided for by remuneration under rule 167 shall be paid by such persons or out of such funds as the court may direct.

Procedure for assessing costs
    
164. Where the court orders a party, or P, to pay costs to another party it may either—

unless any rule, practice direction or other enactment provides otherwise.

Costs following P's death
    
165. An order or direction that costs incurred during P's lifetime be paid out of or charged on his estate may be made within 6 years after P's death.

Costs orders in favour of or against non-parties
    
166. —(1) Where the court is considering whether to make a costs order in favour of or against a person who is not a party to proceedings—

    (2) This rule does not apply where the court is considering whether to make an order against the Legal Services Commission.

Remuneration of a deputy, donee or attorney
    
167. —(1) Where the court orders that a deputy, donee or attorney is entitled to remuneration out of P's estate for discharging his functions as such, the court may make such order as it thinks fit, including an order that—

    (2) Any amount permitted by the court under paragraph (1) shall constitute a debt due from P's estate.

    (3) The court may order a detailed assessment of the remuneration by a costs officer, in accordance with rule 164(b).

Practice direction as to costs
    
168. A practice direction may make further provision in respect of costs in proceedings.



PART 20

APPEALS

Scope of this Part
    
169. This Part applies to an appeal against any decision of the court except where, in relation to those cases that are to be dealt with in accordance with Part 22 (transitory and transitional provisions), Part 22 makes different provision.

Interpretation
    
170. —(1) In the following provisions of this Part—

    (2) In this Part, where the expression "permission" is used it means "permission to appeal" unless otherwise stated.

Dealing with appeals
    
171. —(1) The court may deal with an appeal or any part of an appeal at a hearing or without a hearing.

    (2) In considering whether it is necessary to hold a hearing, the court shall have regard to the matters set out in rule 84(3).

(Rule 89 provides for reconsideration of orders made without a hearing or without notice to a person.)

Permission to appeal
    
172. —(1) Subject to paragraph (8), an appeal against a decision of the court may not be made without permission.

    (2) Any person bound by an order of the court by virtue of rule 74 (persons to be bound as if parties) may seek permission to appeal under this Part.

    (3) Permission is to be granted or refused in accordance with this Part.

    (4) An application for permission to appeal may be made to the first instance judge or the appeal judge.

    (5) Where an application for permission is refused by the first instance judge, a further application for permission may be made in accordance with paragraphs (6) and (7).

    (6) Where the decision sought to be appealed is a decision of a district judge, permission may be granted or refused by—

    (7) Where the decision sought to be appealed is a decision of a circuit judge, permission may only be granted or refused by one of the judges mentioned in paragraph (6)(a) to (c).

    (8) Permission is not required to appeal against an order for committal to prison.

Matters to be taken into account when considering an application for permission
    
173. —(1) Permission to appeal shall be granted only where—

    (2) An order giving permission may—

Parties to comply with the practice direction
    
174. All parties to an appeal must comply with any relevant practice direction.

Appellant's notice
    
175. —(1) Where the appellant seeks permission from the appeal judge, it must be requested in the appellant's notice.

    (2) The appellant must file an appellant's notice at the court within—

    (3) The court will issue the appellant's notice and unless it orders otherwise, the appellant must serve the appellant's notice on each respondent and on such other persons as the court may direct, as soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which it was issued.

    (4) The appellant must file a certificate of service within 7 days beginning with the date on which he served the appellant's notice.

Respondent's notice
    
176. —(1) A respondent who—

must file a respondent's notice.

    (2) Where the respondent seeks permission from the appeal judge, permission must be requested in the respondent's notice.

    (3) A respondent's notice must be filed within—

    (4) The date is the soonest of—

    (5) The court will issue a respondent's notice and, unless it orders otherwise, the respondent must serve the respondent's notice on the appellant, any other respondent and on such other parties as the court may direct, as soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which it was issued.

    (6) The respondent must file a certificate of service within 7 days beginning with the date on which the copy of the respondent's notice was served.

Variation of time
    
177. —(1) An application to vary the time limit for filing an appellant's or respondent's notice must be made to the appeal judge.

    (2) The parties may not agree to extend any date or time limit for or in respect of an appeal set by—

Power of appeal judge on appeal
    
178. —(1) In relation to an appeal, an appeal judge has all the powers of the first instance judge whose decision is being appealed.

    (2) In particular, the appeal judge has the power to—

    (3) The appeal judge may exercise his powers in relation to the whole or part of an order made by the first instance judge.

Determination of appeals
    
179. —(1) An appeal will be limited to a review of the decision of the first instance judge unless—

    (2) Unless he orders otherwise, the appeal judge will not receive—

    (3) The appeal judge will allow an appeal where the decision of the first instance judge was—

    (4) The appeal judge may draw any inference of fact that he considers justified on the evidence.

    (5) At the hearing of the appeal a party may not rely upon a matter not contained in his appellant's or respondent's notice unless the appeal judge gives permission.

Allocation
    
180. Except in accordance with the relevant practice direction—

Appeals against decision of a puisne judge of the High Court, etc
    
181. —(1) Where the decision sought to be appealed is a decision of a judge nominated by virtue of section 46(2)(a) to (c) of the Act, an appeal will lie only to the Court of Appeal.

    (2) The judge nominated by virtue of section 46(2)(a) to (c) of the Act may grant permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal in accordance with this Part, where the decision sought to be appealed was a decision made by a judge so nominated as a first instance judge.

Second appeals
    
182. —(1) A decision of a judge of the court which was itself made on appeal from a judge of the court may only be appealed further to the Court of Appeal.

    (2) Permission is required from the Court of Appeal for such an appeal.

    (3) The Court of Appeal will not give permission unless it considers that—

    (4) Nothing in this rule or in rule 181 applies to a second appeal from a decision of a nominated officer.



PART 21

ENFORCEMENT

Enforcement methods – general
    
183. —(1) The rules in this Part make provision for the enforcement of judgments and orders.

    (2) The relevant practice direction may set out methods of enforcing judgments or orders.

    (3) An application for an order for enforcement may be made on application by any person in accordance with Part 10.

Application of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 and RSC Orders
    
184. The following provisions apply, as far as they are relevant and with such modifications as may be necessary, to the enforcement of orders made in proceedings under these Rules—

Contempt of court – generally
     185. An application relating to the committal of a person for contempt of court shall be made to a judge and the power to punish for contempt may be exercised by an order of committal.

Application for order of committal
    
186. —(1) An application for an order of committal must be made by filing an application notice, stating the grounds of the application, and must be supported by an affidavit made in accordance with the relevant practice direction.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3), the application notice, a copy of the affidavit in support thereof and notice of the date of the hearing of the application must be served personally on the person sought to be committed.

    (3) Without prejudice to its powers under Part 6, the court may dispense with service under this rule if it thinks it just to do so.

Oral evidence
    
187. If on the hearing of the application the person sought to be committed expresses a wish to give oral evidence on his own behalf, he shall be entitled to do so.

Hearing for committal order
    
188. —(1) Except where the court permits, no grounds shall be relied upon at the hearing except the grounds set out in the application notice.

    (2) Notwithstanding rule 90(1) (general rule – hearing to be in private), when determining an application for committal the court will hold the hearing in public unless it directs otherwise.

    (3) If the court hearing an application in private decides that a person has committed a contempt of court, it shall state publicly—

    (4) If the person sought to be committed does not attend the hearing, the court may fix a date and time for the person to be brought before the court.

Power to suspend execution of committal order
    
189. —(1) A judge who has made an order of committal may direct that the execution of the order of committal shall be suspended for such period or on such terms and conditions as may be specified.

    (2) Where an order is suspended under paragraph (1), the applicant for the order of committal must, unless the court otherwise directs, serve on the person against whom it was made a notice informing him of the making and terms of the direction under that paragraph.

Warrant for arrest
    
190. A warrant for the arrest of a person against whom an order of committal has been made shall not, without further order of the court, be enforced more than 2 years after the date on which the warrant is issued.

Discharge of person committed
    
191. —(1) The court may, on the application of any person committed to prison for contempt of court, discharge him.

    (2) Where a person has been committed for failing to comply with a judgment or order requiring him to deliver any thing to some other person or to deposit it in court or elsewhere, and a writ of sequestration has also been issued to enforce that judgment or order, then, if the thing is in the custody or power of the person committed, the commissioners appointed by the writ of sequestration may take possession of it as if it were the property of that person and, without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the court may discharge the person committed and may give such directions for dealing with the thing taken by the commissioners as it thinks fit.

Penal notices
    
192. —(1) The court may direct that a penal notice is to be attached to any order warning the person on whom the copy of the order is served that disobeying the order would be a contempt of court punishable by imprisonment or a fine.

    (2) Unless the court gives a direction under paragraph (1), a penal notice may not be attached to any order.

    (3) A penal notice is to be in the following terms: "You must obey this order. If you do not, you may be sent to prison for contempt of court.".

Saving for other powers
    
193. The rules in this Part do not limit the power of the court to make an order requiring a person guilty of contempt to pay a fine or give security for his good behaviour and those rules, so far as applicable, shall apply in relation to an application for such an order as they apply in relation to an application for an order of committal.

Power of court to commit on its own initiative
    
194. The preceding provisions of these Rules shall not be taken as affecting the power of the court to make an order for committal on its own initiative against a person guilty of contempt of court.



PART 22

TRANSITORY AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Transitory provision: applications by former receivers
    
195. —(1) This rule and rule 196—

    (2) The deputy may make an application to the court in connection with—

    (3) Decisions within paragraph (2) include those that may be specified in the relevant practice direction.

    (4) An application—

Transitory provision: dealing with applications under rule 195
     196. —(1) The court may, in determining an application under rule 195, treat the application as if it were an application to vary the functions of the deputy which is made in accordance with the relevant practice direction made under rule 71, and dispose of it accordingly.

    (2) In any other case, an application under rule 195 may be determined by an order made or directions given by—

    (3) The Senior Judge or the President may nominate an officer or officers of the court for the purpose of determining applications under rule 195.

    (4) Where an officer has been nominated under paragraph (3) to determine an application, he may refer to a judge any proceedings or any question arising in any proceedings which ought, in the officer's opinion, to be considered by a judge.

Appeal against a decision of a nominated officer
    
197. —(1) This rule applies in relation to decisions made under rules 195 and 196 by a nominated officer.

    (2) An appeal from a decision to which this rule applies lies to a judge of the court nominated by virtue of section 46(2)(e) of the Act.

    (3) No permission is required for an appeal under paragraph (2).

    (4) A judge determining an appeal under paragraph (2) has all the powers that an appeal judge on appeal has by virtue of rule 178.

    (5) An appeal from a decision made under paragraph (2) ("a second appeal") lies to a judge of the court nominated by virtue of section 46(2)(d) of the Act.

    (6) A second appeal may be made from a decision of a nominated officer, and a judge to whom such an appeal is made may, if he considers the matter is one which ought to be heard by a judge of the court nominated by virtue of section 46(2)(a) to (c), transfer the matter to such a judge.

    (7) An appeal from a decision made on a second appeal lies to the Court of Appeal.

Application of Rules to proceedings within paragraphs 3 and 12 of Schedule 5 to the Act
    
198. —(1) In this rule, "pending proceedings" means proceedings on an application within paragraph 3 or 12 of Schedule 5 to the Act.

    (2) A practice direction shall make provision for the extent to which these Rules shall apply to pending proceedings.

Practice direction
    
199. A practice direction may make additional or different provision in relation to transitory and transitional matters.



PART 23

MISCELLANEOUS

Order or directions requiring a person to give security for discharge of functions
    
200. —(1) This rule applies where the court makes an order or gives a direction—

    (2) The person on whom functions are conferred must give the security before he undertakes to discharge his functions, unless the court permits it to be given subsequently.

    (3) Paragraphs (4) to (6) apply where the security is required to be given before any action can be taken.

    (4) Subject to paragraph (5), the security must be given in accordance with the requirements of regulation 33(2)(a) of the Public Guardian Regulations (which makes provision about the giving of security by means of a bond that is endorsed by an authorised insurance company or deposit-taker).

    (5) The court may impose such other requirements in relation to the giving of the security as it considers appropriate (whether in addition to, or instead of, those specified in paragraph (4)).

    (6) In specifying the date from which the order or directions referred to in paragraph (1) are to take effect, the court will have regard to the need to postpone that date for such reasonable period as would enable the Public Guardian to be satisfied that—

    (7) "The Public Guardian Regulations" means the Lasting Powers of Attorney, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Public Guardian Regulations 2007[20].

Objections to registration of an enduring power of attorney: request for directions
     201. —(1) This rule applies in any case where—

    (2) In paragraph (1)(b) the relevant day is the later of—

    (3) The Public Guardian may seek the court's directions about registering the instrument by filing a request in accordance with the relevant practice direction.

    (4) As soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which the request was made, the court will notify—

    (5) As soon as practicable and in any event within 21 days of the date on which the request is filed, the Public Guardian must notify the donor of the power that the request has been so filed.

    (6) The notice under paragraph (4) must—

    (7) "Notice of objection" means a notice of objection which is made in accordance with paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 4 to the Act.

Disposal of property where P ceases to lack capacity
    
202. —(1) This rule applies where P ceases to lack capacity.

    (2) In this rule, "relevant property" means any property belonging to P and forming part of his estate, and which—

    (3) The court may at any time make an order for any relevant property to be transferred to P, or at P's direction, provided that it is satisfied that P has the capacity to make decisions in relation to that property.

    (4) An application for an order under this rule is to be made in accordance with Part 10.


Sir Mark Potter
President

I agree [
c]

25th June 2007


Falconer of Thoroton, C

25th June 2007



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Rules)


These Rules set out the practice and procedure to be followed in the new Court of Protection. Section 45 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 establishes a new, superior court of record called the Court of Protection which replaces the office of the Supreme Court known as the Court of Protection. These Rules revoke the rules governing procedure in the former Court of Protection (the Court of Protection Rules 2001 (S.1. 2001/824, as amended by S.1. 2001/2977, S.I. 2002/833, S.I. 2003/1733, S.I. 2004/1291, S.I. 2005/667 and S.I. 2006/653), and the Court of Protection (Enduring Power of Attorney Rules) 2001 (S.I. 2001/825, as amended by S.I. 2002/832, S.I. 2002/1944, S.I. 2005/668 and S.I. 2005/3126).

Part 2 of the Rules sets out the overriding objective that is to be applied whenever the court exercises its powers under the Rules, or interprets any rule or practice direction. Part 3 contains provisions for interpreting the Rules and for the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 to be applied insofar as may be necessary to further the overriding objective. Part 4 makes provision as to court documents, including the requirement for certain documents to be verified by a statement of truth. Part 5 sets out the court's general case management powers, and includes the power to dispense with the requirement of any rule. The Rules provide procedures for serving documents (Part 6), notifying the person who lacks capacity and who is the subject matter of the application of certain documents and events (Part 7), seeking permission to start proceedings (Part 8), starting proceedings (Part 9), making interim applications and applications within proceedings (Part 10), as to how applications will be dealt with (Part 12) and as to hearings (Part 13), including provisions as to publication of information and as to privacy and publicity of proceedings.

The Rules set out procedures to be followed in relation to evidence (Parts 14 and 15), disclosure (Part 16), appointment of litigation friends (Part 17), change of solicitor (Part 18), costs (Part 19), appeals (Part 20), the enforcement of orders (Part 21) and transitory and transitional matters (Part 22). The detail of the transitional and transitory procedures is provided in the practice directions.


Notes:

[1] 2005 c.9, as amended by article 2 of, and paragraphs 30 and 34 of Schedule 1 to, the Lord Chancellor (Transfer of Functions and Supplementary Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1016).back

[2] 2005 c.4.back

[3] S.1. 2001/824, as amended by S.1. 2001/2977, S.I. 2002/833, S.I. 2003/1733, S.I. 2004/1291, S.I. 2005/667 and S.I. 2006/653.back

[4] S.I. 2001/825, as amended by S.I. 2002/832, S.I. 2002/1944, S.I. 2005/668 and S.I. 2005/3126.back

[5] 1971 c. 80.back

[6] 1990 c. 41.back

[7] 1999 c. 22.back

[8] S.I. 1998/3132, as amended.back

[9] S.I. 2005/2795.back

[10] 1925 c. 19.back

[11] 1996 c. 47.back

[12] 1998 c. 42.back

[13] OJ No. L 174/1 27.6.2001.back[b]

[14] S.I. 2000/441.back

[15] 1999 c. 22.back

[16] 1990 c. 41.back

[17] Section 58 was substituted by section 27(1) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 (c. 22).back

[18] Schedule 1 to the Civil Procedure Rules 1998.back

[19] 1983, c. 20.back

[20] S.I. 2007/1253.back


[a] Amended by Correction Slip. Page 42, rule 114(b), line one: insert new footnote reference, “(a)”, immediately after “…Council Regulation (EC) No. 1206/2001…”; back

[b] Amended by Correction Slip. Page 42, insert new footnote, “(a)”, which should read: “OJ No. L 174/1 27.6.2001.”; and back

[c] Amended by Correction Slip. Page 65, in the signature block, opposite the Lord Chancellor’s signature and immediately above the second date signed, insert: “I agree”. back



ISBN 978 0 11 077747 4


 © Crown copyright 2007

Prepared 11 July 2007


BAILII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Donate to BAILII
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/legis/num_reg/2007/20071744.html