Practice Guidance: Independent Domestic Violence Advisers and Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (Family Courts)

This guidance applies to family proceedings in the Court of Appeal (Civil Division), the High Court of Justice and the Family Court.

It is issued as guidance (not as a practice direction) by the President of the Family Division, as Head of Family Justice.

It is issued in light of the coming into force on 6 April 2023 of new rules and a practice direction relating to the attendance at any court hearing of independent domestic violence advisers/independent sexual violence advisers as support to litigants at all levels of the Family Court.