Now that we are hopefully through the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the family courts are reopening for socially distanced face to face hearings.
Court buildings have been altered to take social distancing into account. This means that each court building has far fewer court rooms available than before the crisis. The court, therefore, can only hear some hearings with people present.
If you are involved in court proceedings, you need to check whether your hearing is attended (where you go to the court building) or remote – either by telephone or video conferencing.
Most short hearings will be remote. Longer hearings, where the parties need to give evidence, such as final hearings or finding of fact hearings, will probably be an attended hearing.
For those attended hearings, the courts service has put in place safety measures in court rooms. This includes a limit on the number of people who can be in the court room at any one time. There are also provisions of hand sanitiser and regular hand washing breaks. Courts are also trying to limit physical paperwork in the hearing.
These are new processes for all of us. The court staff, judges, barristers and solicitors, along with you, are feeling their way for how this will all work. So, if you find yourself at a face to face hearing and you have a query about how the arrangements for social distancing will work, just ask.
If you need any assistance with your court proceedings, please contact us on 0117 214 1797 or email us at office@childreninthemiddle.co.uk.