This section contains the latest advice and guidance from the judiciary in relation to the coronavirus pandemic. It is updated when there are significant developments and you should check the page on a regular basis to ensure you are kept informed of the latest position.
Table of Content
- General Information
- Cross-Jurisdictional Guidance
- Civil Guidance
- Crime Guidance
- Family Guidance
- Magistracy Guidance
- Tribunals Guidance
- Archived Messages and Guidance
General Information
Weekly operational summary on courts and tribunals during coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Updated weekly
HMCTS guidance and updates – Daily operational summary on courts and tribunals during coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Updated regularly
HMCTS risk assessment and safety guidance
27 May 2020
Jury Trials update
24 April 2020
Contingency Planning – Courts and Tribunals
An announcement and list of those buildings remaining open can be found on the above link.
27 March 2020
Review of court arrangements due to COVID-19, message from the Lord Chief Justice
23 March 2020
Cross-Jurisdictional Guidance
Royal Courts of Justice Fees Office update
1 June 2020
General Guidance on PDF bundles
20 May 2020
High Court Contingency Plan
27 March 2020
Guidance For Family & County Court Judges – COVID-19 Measures
This link will download a word document
23 March 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Message from the Lord Chief Justice to judges in the Civil and Family Courts
19 March 2020
Civil Guidance
121st Practice Direction Update to the Civil Procedure Rules – Coronavirus Pandemic related
11 June 2020
Amended Civil Listing Priorities
14 May 2020
Remote Cost Hearings Guidance
This link will download a word document
24 April 2020
New Practice Direction 51ZA Extension of Time Limits and Clarification of PD51Y
02 April 2020
Update – Civil Justice in England and Wales: Protocol regarding Remote Hearings
31 March 2020
New Practice Direction 51Z to Stay Possession Proceedings
27 March 2020
Practice Direction on Video or Audio Hearings in Civil Proceedings during the Coronavirus Pandemic
25 March 2020
Practical measures to ensure social distancing in Central London County Court – Insolvency and Companies work
This link will download a word document
24 March 2020
Civil Court guidance on how to conduct remote hearings
22 March 202
Insolvency
Temporary Insolvency Practice Direction – approved and signed by the Lord Chancellor
07 April 2020
More information:
Civil court guidance and orders issued for different circuits around England
Crime Guidance
Listing in Magistrates’ Courts
07 July 2020
Multi-hander cases in overnight remand courts
19 June 2020
Protocol for Custody Time Limits
Annex A CTL Application – Adjournment of Trial Due to Coronavirus Crisis
Protocol for the effective handling of Custody Time Limit cases in the magistrates and crown court, between the Senior Presiding Judge, HMCTS and the Crown Prosecution Service
30 March 2020
Guidance for Crown Court Judges – COVID-19 Measures
This link will download a word document
23 March 2020
Family Guidance
Court of Protection
Court of Protection COVID-19 Remote Hearings
31 March 2020
Court of Protection COVID-19 Guidance No3
24 March 2020
Court of Protection COVID-19 Guidance No2
18 March 2020
Court of Protection COVID-19 Guidance No1
13 March 2020
General Family
Updated version of the Remote Family Access Court released
26 June 2020
President’s Guidance on Decrees during the Coronavirus Pandemic
9 April 2020
Updated – Coronavirus crisis: Guidance on Compliance with Family Court Child Arrangement Orders
31 March 2020
COVID-19: Temporary Amendments to the Practice Guidance on Case Management and Mediation of International Child Abduction Proceedings
27 March 2020
Magistracy Guidance
Listing in Magistrates’ Courts
07 July 2020
Tribunals Guidance
Different Chambers
Administrative Appeals Chamber
Administrative Appeals Chamber (Upper Tribunal) Guidance for Users in Scotland
16 April 2020
Administrative Appeals Chamber (Upper Tribunal) Guidance for Users in England and Wales
16 April 2020
Administrative Appeals Chamber: Help for Users
15 April 2020
The Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber), Guidance for Users in Northern Ireland
27 March 2020
Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber – Information and Directions for General Stay and General Extension of Time
25 March 2020
Employment Appeals Tribunal
Practice Direction (Employment Appeal Tribunal – Procedure – Hearings)
12 June 2020
Employment Appeal Tribunals: Help for Users
15 April 2020
Employment Appeal Tribunals – Hearing Arrangements from 16 April 2020
9 April 2020
Employment Appeal Tribunal – Provisional Arrangements during COVID-19 Pandemic
25 March 2020
Employment Tribunals
Updated FAQs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic
1 June 2020
FAQs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (updated – see above)
30 April 2020
Employment Tribunals, England & Wales and Scotland: Help for Users
15 April 2020
Amendment to Direction Issued by Employment Tribunal Presidents on 19 March 2020
24 March 2020
Employment Tribunals listing direction review outcome
The Presidents of Employment Tribunals (England and Wales and Scotland) have carried out a second review of their Joint Direction, first issued on 19 March 2020, amended on 24 March 2020 and subject to a first review on 29 April 2020, regarding the listing of Employment Tribunal cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following on from that review the Direction remains in force in its current form. The Presidents will shortly issue a ‘road map’, appended to an amended FAQ sheet, which provides further detail about the listing and methods of conduct of ET hearings over the next few months.
29 May 2020
Direction issued by Employment Tribunal Presidents
19 March 2020
Directions and Guidance for Employment Tribunals (Scotland)
See above link for Presidential guidance in connection with the conduct of employment tribunal proceedings during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic
18 March 2020
Employment Rules and Legislation: Practice Directions
See above link for Presidential guidance in connection with the conduct of employment tribunal proceedings during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic
18 March 2020
Guidance for Employment Tribunals
Presidential guidance in connection with the conduct of employment tribunal proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic
17 March 2020
General Regulatory Chamber
General Regulatory Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Update on Ways of Working
15 June 2020
General Regulatory Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users
15 April 2020
First-Tier Tribunal General Regulatory Chamber (Information Rights), Directions for General Stay (extended. See 27 April above).
2 April 2020
Guidance from General Regulatory Chamber on Ways of Working during Coronavirus Outbreak
23 March 2020
Health, Education and Social Care Chamber
Health, Education and Social Care Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Mental Health: Help for Users
15 April 2020
Guidance from the Chamber President and Deputy Chamber President of HESC regarding the Mental Health jurisdiction
19 March 2020
Guidance from the Chamber President and Deputy Chamber President of HESC
regarding the Special Education Needs and Disability, Care Standards and Primary Health Lists jurisdictions: launch of the first paperless, digital tribunal jurisdictions
19 March 2020
Pilot Practice Direction: Health, Education and Social Care Chamber of the First-Tier Tribunal (Mental Health)
19 March 2020
Immigration and Asylum Chamber
Immigration and Asylum Tribunal Chamber presidential practice statement note: COVID-19 pandemic
11 June 2020
Judicial Review Applications to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber (Upper Tribunal)
29 April 2020
Immigration and Asylum Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users
15 April 2020
Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber, Presidential Guidance Note No.1 2020: Arrangements during the COVID-19 Pandemic
23 March 2020
Presidential Practice Statement note no.1: Immigration and Asylum Chamber
23 March 2020
Presidential Practice Statement note no.2: Immigration and Asylum Chamber
11 June 2020
Lands Chamber
Presidential Guidance on the Conduct of Proceedings in the Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal) during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Updated 26 June – see above.
1 May 2020
Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal): Help for Users second edition
1 May 2020
Payment of fees to the Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal)
29 April 2020
Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal): Help for Users. Updated 1 May – see above.
15 April 2020
Presidential Guidance on the Conduct of Proceedings in the Upper Tribunal, Lands Chamber during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Updated 1 May – see above.
24 March 2020
Property Chamber
Pilot Practice Direction: Amendment relating to inspections by the First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber
23 June 2020
Property Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal) Guidance for Users – updated
8 June 2020
Payment of application and hearing fees to the Property Chamber – Residential Property division (First-tier Tribunal)
29 April 2020
Property Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal) Guidance for Users (updated 8 June – see above)
29 April 2020
Property Chamber Land Registration Division – FAQ
24 April 2020
Property Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users: Residential Property, Land Registration, Agricultural Lands & Drainage
15 April 2020
Social Entitlement Chamber
31 March 2020: Social Entitlement Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Asylum Support: Help for Users
Special Immigration Appeals Commission
Tax Chamber(s)
First0Tier (Tax Chamber) General Guidance on PDF Bundles
7 July 2020
First-Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) COVID-19 Frequently asked questions
5 June 2020
COVID-19: Response to reports of delays from the Chamber President
13 May 2020
First Tier Tribunal Tax Chamber – Directions for a further general stay in relation to certain proceedings
21 April 2020
Tax and Chancery Chamber (Upper Tribunal): Help for Users
15 April 2020
Tax Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users
15 April 2020
Announcement of reduction in service in the First-Tier Tribunal Tax Chamber Administrative Centre
2 April 2020
First-Tier Tribunal, Tax Chamber – Directions for a General Stay
26 March 2020
Provisional Practice Statement First-Tier Tribunal Categorisation of Tax Cases in the Tax Chamber
25 March 2020
Updated Guidance for users on the Administration and Conduct of Proceedings in The First-Tier Tribunal Tax Chamber
25 March 2020
Practice Statement: First-Tier Tribunal Categorisation of Tax Cases in the Tax Chamber
23 March 2020
Guidance on the Conduct of Proceedings in the Upper Tribunal, Tax and Chancery Chamber during the COVID-19 Pandemic
23 March 2020
Statement of Conduct of Business in the First-Tier Tribunal Tax Chamber
19 March 2020
War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber
War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for users
War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users. Updated 1 May – see above.
15 April 2020
First-tier Tribunal (War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber) guidance for users
25 March 2020
General Tribunals
Presidential Practice Direction: Electronic Signatures
4 May 2020
Judges’ and Members’ Administrative Instruction No 4 from the Senior President
14 April 2020
Pilot Practice Direction: Video/Audio Hearings in the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal
2 April 2020
Pilot Practice Direction: the use of former Salaried Judges
27 March 2020
Judges’ and Members’ Administrative Instruction No.3 from the Senior President
27 March 2020
Judges’ and Members’ Administrative Instruction No.2 from the Senior President
23 March 2020
Guidance for Tribunal Judges and Members– COVID-19 Measures
This link will download a word document
23 March 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Message from Presidents of the Employment Tribunals in England & Wales and in Scotland
19 March 2020
Pilot Practice Direction: Contingency Arrangements in the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal
19 March 2020
Pilot Practice Direction: Panel Composition in the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal
19 March 2020
Judges’ and Members’ Administrative Directions No. 1 from the Senior President
18 March 2020
Archived Messages and Guidance
Remote Access Family Courts, latest guidance
17 April 2020
Civil Listing Priorities
03 April 2020
FAQs arising from the Covid-19 pandemic – Employment Tribunals
3 April 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Jury trials, message from the Lord Chief Justice
17 March 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) update from the Lord Chief Justice
17 March 2020