Open date: 19 December 2007
Close date: 11 March 2008
Responses published: 11 June 2008
This Consultation Paper describes the Government's strategy for developing the fees system in the civil and family courts of England and Wales, and sets out for consultation proposals to:
- make changes to court fees in relation to Public Law Children Act process; and
- make changes to fees charged for Adoption proceedings.
Views were also sought on how fees could be structured in relation to Care Proceedings.
Consultation paper
- Public law family fees consultation paper [PDF 0.22mb, 40 pages]
- Questionnaire [Word 0.04mb, 2 pages]
Responses
There were 111 responses to the consultation. It was clear that the majority of respondents were against full cost fees for public law child care proceedings. Three main themes emerged: full cost recovery was wrong in principle, either generally or where proceedings are cases brought under a statutory obligation local authorities would not be able to afford the increased fees children would be put at risk.
The new fees were introduced on 1 May 2008.
- Response to Consultation [PDF 0.17mb, 42 pages]
Contact details
Kate Lane, Civil Law & Justice Division
Her Majesty's Courts Service
Ministry of Justice
5th Floor
Selborne House
54-60 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6QT
Tel: 0207 210 2629
Fax: 0207 210 8825