The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2026 amend the Family Procedure Rules 2010 to restrict unregulated experts from acting as expert witnesses in Family Law Children Proceedings. The amendments come into force on 20 July 2026.

The dispute was between a former husband and wife, who were Russian nationals, about a post-nuptial agreement. The judge found that much of the expert evidence on Russian law was misdirected and misspent, and of limited use. He emphasised that both experts acted at times as surrogate advocates on behalf of their instructing parties.

The Financial Remdies Court ('FRC') has published the Financial Remedies Guide 2026. The Guide, which took effect on 13 March 2026, brings together the core documents which underpin the FRC.

In recent years a range of stakeholders have raised concerns regarding unregulated experts providing evidence in family law court cases and the standard of the evidence they provide. The Family Procedure Rule Committee is consulting on new FPR 25.5A with the aim of requiring any expert instructed in family law children proceedings to be regulated. A key purpose of the changes is to ensure that any expert instructed in family law children proceedings has the appropriate skills and qualifications on which to base their expert evidence. 

In BR v BR [2024] EWFC 11, Mr Justice Peel concludes that the direction of a Single Joint Expert is the default position in the Family Court and there is a high bar to persuade the court to give permission for two or more experts to be solely instructed. 

The Family Justice Council Experts Sub-Committee invites the judiciary, legal, medical and allied professions to register your interest in: Experts in the Family Justice System Symposium: The Long and Winding Road.