Guidance
President of the Family Division’s memorandum: Experts in the Family Court
Published 2021-10-11Last updated 2022-07-20
This memorandum seeks to explain the principles applied by the Family Court when it considers whether to authorise or admit expert evidence.
It also repeats the reminder that experts should only be instructed when to do so is ‘necessary’ to assist the court in resolving issues justly.
The memorandum can be read below.
Related guidance 5
Other guidance whose text is closest in subject to this document, found by similarity of wording rather than by citation.
- President of the Family Division: Witness Statements2022-07-20
- Guidelines for the Instructions for Medical Experts from Overseas in Family Cases2022-07-20
- Expert evidence2026-06-25
- Experts and the Family Justice System: Widening the Pool2022-07-28
- Updated Practice Guidance by the PFD: The use of Intermediaries, Lay Advocates and Cognitive Assessments in the Family Court2025-12-18