FIRST FOR FAMILY
FPR update no 1 of 2024 is here (published after much was claimed to be already in force, but, as with cuckolded spouses, the punters can be the last to know). This set me thinking that if the FPR update titles were given a similar appellation to the CPR—this would mean, for example ‘120th Practice Direction update’—there would be a saving of four characters and, hence, an economy in space, cartridge ink, typing, etc, and maybe the plan announced with the spring budget to demote HMCTS mail to second-class postage, so that it never actually arrives, could be ditched. Discuss.
As already reported (see ‘Civil way’, NLJ, 19 January 2024), family judges’ attempts to force non-court-based dispute resolution (NCDR) down the throats of warring parties is being aided and abetted as from 29 April 2024 by their power to require the filing and service of a form that sets out the views on such a course as held





