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
Message from the Lord Chief Justice – Remote Attendance by Advocates in the Crown Court (opens in a new tab)
14 February 2022
HMCTS guidance and updates – Daily operational summary on courts and tribunals during coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak (external link, opens in a new tab)
Updated regularly
Message from the Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals – Plan B (link, opens in a new tab)
09 December 2021
Cross-Jurisdictional Guidance
Royal Courts of Justice Fees Office update (opens in a new tab)
1 June 2020
Administrative Court Guidance (external link, opens in a new tab)
High Court Contingency Plan (opens in a new tab)
27 March 2020
Guidance For Family & County Court Judges – COVID-19 Measures (opens in a new tab)
This link will download a word document
23 March 2020
Civil Guidance
Protocol for Insolvency and Company Work at Central London (opens in a new tab)
3 September 2020
Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020 & the 123rd Practice Direction Update (opens in a new tab)
21 July 2020
Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2020 & the 122nd Practice Direction Update (opens in a new tab)
21 July 2020
121st Practice Direction Update to the Civil Procedure Rules – Coronavirus Pandemic related (opens in a new tab)
11 June 2020
Amended Civil Listing Priorities (opens in a new tab)
14 May 2020
Remote Cost Hearings Guidance (Word document, opens in a new tab)
This link will download a word document
24 April 2020
New Practice Direction 51ZA Extension of Time Limits and Clarification of PD51Y (opens in a new tab)
02 April 2020
Update – Civil Justice in England and Wales: Protocol regarding Remote Hearings (opens in a new tab)
31 March 2020
New Practice Direction 51Z to Stay Possession Proceedings (opens in a new tab)
27 March 2020
Practice Direction on Video or Audio Hearings in Civil Proceedings during the Coronavirus Pandemic (opens in a new tab)
25 March 2020
Practical measures to ensure social distancing in Central London County Court – Insolvency and Companies work (Word document, opens in a new tab)
This link will download a word document
24 March 2020
Civil Court guidance on how to conduct remote hearings (opens in a new tab)
22 March 202
Insolvency
Northern Temporary Insolvency Practice Direction – July 2021 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
30 June 2021
Northern Temporary Insolvency Practice Direction (PDF, opens in a new tab)
6 April 2021
Extended temporary Insolvency Practice Direction – approved and signed by Lord Wolfson (opens in a new tab)
31 March 2021
Northern Temporary Insolvency Practice Direction (opens in a new tab)
6 October 2020
North BPC Bundle Guidance (opens in a new tab)
6 October 2020
Guidance on the operation of the TIPD in London Insolvency and Companies Court (ICC) (opens in a new tab)
2 October 2020
Extended temporary Insolvency Practice Direction – approved and signed by the Lord Chancellor (opens in a new tab)
2 October 2020
More information:
Civil court guidance and orders issued for different circuits around England (opens in a new tab)
Crime Guidance
Withdrawal of Custody Time Limits Protocol of 9 April 2020 (opens in a new tab)
2 September 2020
HMCTS memo to the SPJ – Supporting recovery in the Crown Court jurisdiction (PDF, opens in a new tab)
24 August 2020
Listing in Magistrates’ Courts (opens in a new tab)
07 July 2020
Multi-hander cases in overnight remand courts (opens in a new tab)
19 June 2020
Guidance for Crown Court Judges – COVID-19 Measures (Word document, opens in a new tab)
This link will download a word document
23 March 2020
Family Guidance
Court of Protection
Letter from Mr Justice Hayden: COVID-19 restrictions and the Court of Protection (opens in a new tab)
16 October 2020
Court of Protection COVID-19 Remote Hearings (opens in a new tab)
31 March 2020
Court of Protection COVID-19 Guidance No3 (opens in a new tab)
24 March 2020
Court of Protection COVID-19 Guidance No2 (opens in a new tab)
18 March 2020
Court of Protection COVID-19 Guidance No1 (opens in a new tab)
13 March 2020
General Family
Message from the President of the Family Division: The Road Ahead 2021 (opens in a new tab)
8 January 2021
28 July 2020
Updated version of the Remote Family Access Court released (opens in a new tab)
26 June 2020
President’s Guidance on Decrees during the Coronavirus Pandemic (opens in a new tab)
9 April 2020
Updated – Coronavirus crisis: Guidance on Compliance with Family Court Child Arrangement Orders (opens in a new tab)
31 March 2020
COVID-19: Temporary Amendments to the Practice Guidance on Case Management and Mediation of International Child Abduction Proceedings (opens in a new tab)
27 March 2020
Judge Advocate General
Coronavirus (COVID-19) measures:
Operation of the Service Courts Procedures from 11 January 2021 (opens in a new tab)
12 January 2021
Magistracy Guidance
Listing in Magistrates’ Courts (opens in a new tab)
07 July 2020
Tribunals Guidance
Different Chambers
Administrative Appeals Chamber
Administrative Appeals Chamber: Help for Users (PDF, opens in a new tab)
25 August 2020
Administrative Appeals Chamber (Upper Tribunal) Revised Guidance for Users in England and Wales (PDF, opens in a new tab)
21 August 2020
Administrative Appeals Chamber (Upper Tribunal) Revised Guidance for Users in Scotland (PDF, opens in a new tab)
21 August 2020
Administrative Appeals Chamber (Upper Tribunal) Guidance for Users in Scotland (opens in a new tab) (updated 21 August 2020)
16 April 2020
Administrative Appeals Chamber (Upper Tribunal) Guidance for Users in England and Wales (opens in a new tab) (updated 21 August 2020)
16 April 2020
Administrative Appeals Chamber: Help for Users (opens in a new tab) (updated 25 August 2020)
15 April 2020
Employment Appeals Tribunal
Practice Direction (Employment Appeal Tribunal – Procedure – Hearings) (opens in a new tab)
12 June 2020
Employment Appeal Tribunals: Help for Users (opens in a new tab)
15 April 2020
Employment Appeal Tribunals – Hearing Arrangements from 16 April 2020 (opens in a new tab)
9 April 2020
Employment Appeal Tribunal – Provisional Arrangements during COVID-19 Pandemic (opens in a new tab)
25 March 2020
Employment Tribunals
Employment Tribunals: A road map for 2021-22 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
31 March 2021
Presidential Guidance (England and Wales) on remote and in-person hearings (PDF, opens in a new tab)
14 September 2020
14 September 2020
Presidential Practice Direction (on the use of the Welsh language) (PDF, opens in a new tab)
14 September 2020
Updated FAQs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (opens in a new tab)
1 June 2020
FAQs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (updated – see above) (opens in a new tab)
30 April 2020
Employment Tribunals, England & Wales and Scotland: Help for Users (opens in a new tab)
15 April 2020
Amendment to Direction Issued by Employment Tribunal Presidents on 19 March 2020 (opens in a new tab)
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 (opens in a new tab)
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 (opens in a new tab)
Presidential guidance in connection with the conduct of employment tribunal proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic
17 March 2020
General Regulatory Chamber
Update on the ways of working in the First-Tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber), during the Coronavirus pandemic (PDF, opens in a new tab)
11 February 2021
General Regulatory Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Update on Ways of Working (opens in a new tab)
15 June 2020
General Regulatory Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users (opens in a new tab)
15 April 2020
First-Tier Tribunal General Regulatory Chamber (Information Rights), Directions for General Stay (opens in a new tab) (extended. See 27 April above)
2 April 2020
Guidance from General Regulatory Chamber on Ways of Working during Coronavirus Outbreak (opens in a new tab)
23 March 2020
Health, Education and Social Care Chamber
Help for Users Updated – Health, Education and Social Care Chamber guidance (PDF, opens in a new tab)
16 February 2021
Guidance from the Chamber President and Deputy Chamber President of HESC (PDF, opens in a new tab) regarding the Special Educational Needs and Disability, Care Standards and Primary Health Lists jurisdictions: a digital tribunal jurisdiction.
16 February 2021
Video Hearing Guidance for Representatives in Mental Health Tribunals (opens in a new tab)
21 September 2020
Amended Pilot Practice Direction: Health, Education and Social Care Chamber of the First- Tier Tribunal (Mental Health) (PDF, opens in a new tab)
15 September 2020
Updated Mental Health hearing Guidance for Users (opens in a new tab)
28 July 2020
Video hearing guidance for participants in mental health hearings (opens in a new tab)
17 July 2020
Immigration and Asylum Chamber
UTIAC Amended Presidential Guidance Note No1 2020: Arrangements during the COVID-19 Pandemic (opens in a new tab)
19 November 2020
Immigration and Asylum Tribunal Chamber presidential practice statement note: COVID-19 pandemic (opens in a new tab)
11 June 2020
Presidential Practice Statement note no.2: Immigration and Asylum Chamber (opens in a new tab)
11 June 2020
Judicial Review Applications to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber (Upper Tribunal) (opens in a new tab)
29 April 2020
Immigration and Asylum Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users (opens in a new tab)
15 April 2020
Presidential Practice Statement note no.1: Immigration and Asylum Chamber (opens in a new tab)
23 March 2020
Lands Chamber
Update on the conduct of proceedings in the Upper Tribunal, Land Chamber during the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, opens in a new tab) (Updated 26 May 2021)
4 November 2020
Guidance for use of Electronic Hearing Bundles: Upper Tribunal, Lands Chamber (PDF, opens in a new tab)
4 November 2020
Presidential Guidance on the Conduct of Proceedings in the Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal) during the COVID-19 Pandemic (opens in a new tab) Updated 26 June – see above
1 May 2020
Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal): Help for Users second edition (opens in a new tab)
1 May 2020
Payment of fees to the Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal) (opens in a new tab)
29 April 2020
Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal): Help for Users (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab) Updated 1 May – see above.
24 March 2020
Property Chamber
First tier tribunal (Property Chamber) guidance for users during COVID-19 pandemic
12 October 2021
Property Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal) Guidance for Users (updated 8 June – see above) (opens in a new tab)
29 April 2020
Property Chamber Land Registration Division – FAQ (opens in a new tab)
24 April 2020
Social Entitlement Chamber
Help for Users: Social Entitlement Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal) (PDF, opens in a new tab)
11 February 2021
First-tier Tribunal, Asylum Support: Help for Users Guide (applicable during the Covid-19 pandemic) (PDF, opens in a new tab) Updated May 2021
11 November 2020
First-Tier Tribunal, Asylum Support (FTT-AS) Road-map to Recovery (PDF, opens in a new tab)
7 October 2020
Social Entitlement Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Asylum Support: Arrangements During the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF, opens in a new tab)
31 March 2020 (Updated 7 October 2020)
Social Entitlement Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Asylum Support: Help for Users (PDF, opens in a new tab)
31 March 2020 (Upafted 7 October 2020)
Special Immigration Appeals Commission
Tax Chamber(s)
Guidance on the conduct of proceeding in the Upper Tribunal, Tax and Chancery Chamber during the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, opens in a new tab)
20 January 2021
First-Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) COVID-19 Frequently asked questions (opens in a new tab)
5 June 2020
COVID-19: Response to reports of delays from the Chamber President (opens in a new tab)
13 May 2020
Tax and Chancery Chamber (Upper Tribunal): Help for Users (opens in a new tab)
15 April 2020
Tax Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users (opens in a new tab)
15 April 2020
First-Tier Tribunal, Tax Chamber – Directions for a General Stay (opens in a new tab)
26 March 2020
Provisional Practice Statement First-Tier Tribunal Categorisation of Tax Cases in the Tax Chamber (opens in a new tab)
25 March 2020
Practice Statement: First-Tier Tribunal Categorisation of Tax Cases in the Tax Chamber (opens in a new tab)
23 March 2020
Statement of Conduct of Business in the First-Tier Tribunal Tax Chamber (opens in a new tab)
19 March 2020
War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber
War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for users (opens in a new tab)
30 April 2020
War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users (opens in a new tab) Updated 1 May – see above.
15 April 2020
First-tier Tribunal (War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber) guidance for users (opens in a new tab)
25 March 2020
General Tribunals
COVID 19 Practice Directions for the First Tier and Upper Tribunal:
Amended General Pilot Practice Direction – March 2021 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Amended Panel Composition Pilot PD – March 2021 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Amended Mental Health PD – March 2021 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
18 March 2021
Amended General Pilot Practice Direction: Contingency Arrangements in the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal (PDF, opens in a new tab)
15 September 2020
Amended Pilot Practice Direction: Panel Composition in the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal (PDF, opens in a new tab)
15 September 2020
Presidential Practice Direction: Electronic Signatures (opens in a new tab)
4 May 2020
Judges’ and Members’ Administrative Instruction No 4 from the Senior President (opens in a new tab)
14 April 2020
Pilot Practice Direction: Video/Audio Hearings in the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal (opens in a new tab)
2 April 2020
Pilot Practice Direction: the use of former Salaried Judges (opens in a new tab)
27 March 2020
Judges’ and Members’ Administrative Instruction No.3 from the Senior President (opens in a new tab)
27 March 2020
Judges’ and Members’ Administrative Instruction No.2 from the Senior President (opens in a new tab)
23 March 2020
Guidance for Tribunal Judges and Members– COVID-19 Measures (opens in a new tab)
This link will download a word document
23 March 2020
Pilot Practice Direction: Contingency Arrangements in the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal (opens in a new tab)
19 March 2020
Pilot Practice Direction: Panel Composition in the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal (opens in a new tab)
19 March 2020
Judges’ and Members’ Administrative Directions No. 1 from the Senior President (opens in a new tab)
18 March 2020
Archived Messages and Guidance
Weekly operational summary on courts and tribunals during coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak (external link, opens in a new tab)
Updated weekly
First-tier Tribunal (Immigration & Asylum Chamber) User Guide May 2022 (PDF, opens in a new tab) 16 May 2022
16 May 2022
Message from the Lord Chief Justice: latest COVID-19 restrictions (opens in a new tab)
05 January 2021
HMCTS risk assessment and safety guidance (external link, opens in a new tab)
27 May 2020
Jury Trials update (opens in a new tab)
24 April 2020
Contingency Planning – Courts and Tribunals (opens in a new tab)
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 (opens in a new tab)
23 March 2020
Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber: Revised Guidance for Users in Northern Ireland (PDF, opens in a new tab)
14 September 2020
First-tier Tribunal (Immigration & Asylum Chamber) User Guide December 2021 – April 2022 (PDF, opens in a new tab) 15 December 2021
First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) User Guide April 2021 to October 2021 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
31 August 2021
Immigration and Asylum Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users – June-August 2021 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
18 June 2021
Property Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal) Guidance for Users – updated February 2021 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
8 June 2020
Immigration and Asylum Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users – April 2021 Update Who’s who poster (PDF, opens in a new tab)
4 January 2021
Frequently asked questions about hearing arrangements during the Coronavirus Pandemic- July 2020 (opens in a new tab)
3 August 2020
Remote Access Family Courts, latest guidance (opens in a new tab)
17 April 2020
Protocol for Custody Time Limits (opens in a new tab)
9 April 2020
Temporary Insolvency Practice Direction – approved and signed by the Lord Chancellor (opens in a new tab)
07 April 2020
Civil Listing Priorities (Word document) (opens in a new tab)
03 April 2020
Annex A CTL Application – Adjournment of Trial Due to Coronavirus Crisis (Word document, opens in a new tab)
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 (withdrawn 2 September)
Guidance from the Chamber President and Deputy Chamber President of HESC (opens in a new tab)
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
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Jury trials, message from the Lord Chief Justice (opens in a new tab)
17 March 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) update from the Lord Chief Justice (opens in a new tab)
17 March 2020