Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice and guidance

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

  1. General Information
  2. Cross-Jurisdictional Guidance
  3. Civil Guidance
  4. Crime Guidance
  5. Family Guidance
  6. Magistracy Guidance
  7. Tribunals Guidance
  8. 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)

Message for Circuit and District Judges sitting in Civil and Family from the Lord Chief Justice, Master of the Rolls and President of the Family Division (opens in a new tab) 15 April 2020

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 (PDF)
3 September 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 (PDF)
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

Practice Guidance on Service of Part 4 Family Law Act 1996 applications, orders and notification to the police: Pilot Practice Direction 36U (opens in a new tab)

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

Employment Appeals Tribunal

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

Presidential Practice Direction (on the use of the Welsh language) (PDF, opens in a new tab)

14 September 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): Help for Users (opens in a new tab) 15 April 2020

General Regulatory Chamber, Information Rights (First-Tier Tribunal) Continuation of Direction for a General Stay (extension of below) (opens in a new tab) 27 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

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

Letter from the President of the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber to stakeholders about the pandemic arrangements in the Chamber (opens in a new tab) 22 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

Guidance for use of Electronic Hearing Bundles: Upper Tribunal, Lands Chamber (PDF, opens in a new tab)
4 November 2020

Payment of fees to the Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal) (opens in a new tab) 29 April 2020

Property Chamber

First tier tribunal (Property Chamber) guidance for users during COVID-19 pandemic
12 October 2021

Pilot Practice Direction: Amendment relating to inspections by the First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber (opens in a new tab) 23 June 2020

Payment of application and hearing fees to the Property Chamber – Residential Property division (First-tier Tribunal) (opens in a new tab) 29 April 2020

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

Property Chamber (First-Tier Tribunal): Help for Users: Residential Property, Land Registration, Agricultural Lands & Drainage (opens in a new tab) 15 April 2020

Practice Direction Property Chamber, First-tier Tribunal Lodging Applications and Documents by Email and Areas in the Property Chamber (opens in a new tab) 26 March 2020

Social Entitlement Chamber

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

Tax Chamber(s)

Practice Statement: First-Tier Tribunal Categorisation of Tax Cases in the Tax Chambers Extension of Provisional arrangements (PDF, opens in a new tab) 22 March 2021

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

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

Practice Statement: First-Tier Tribunal Categorisation of Tax Cases in the Tax Chamber (opens in a new tab) 23 March 2020

Guidance on the Conduct of Proceedings in the Upper Tribunal, Tax and Chancery Chamber during the COVID-19 Pandemic (opens in a new tab) 23 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

Presidential Practice Direction: Electronic Signatures (opens in a new tab) 4 May 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

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

Updated – Health Education and Social Care Chamber Guidance for Users – special educational needs, care standards and primary health lists (opens in a new tab)
14 July

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