Practice Directions

President's Direction on Communication with the Passport Service

1. Where a request is made of or an order is made against the UK Passport Service, the judge should ask the court to draw up and immediately to provide a copy of the relevant request or order in a separate document to:

   Family Division Lawyer
   President's Chambers
   Royal Courts of Justice
   Strand, London WC2A 2LL
   T: 020 7947 7965
   F: 020 7947 7274

   Email

   The form EX660 should be completed. It will be used by the court in the production of the order, and should also be sent to the Family Division Lawyer.

2. The request or order should either state or be accompanied by a letter to the Family Division Lawyer stating the following details in respect of all parties about whom they are seeking information:
   • full name including all middle names;
   • full date of birth; and
   • any known passport numbers.

   The form EX660 should be completed and used by the court in the production of the order.

3. The request or order should state the time by which the information is required, allowing a reasonable period for the Passport Service to investigate and prepare its statement to the court. In the absence of urgent circumstances, a reasonable period shall be four weeks.
4. The request or order should identify the information required from the Passport Service.
5. The Family Division Lawyer will then send to disclosure of information officers the enquiry, together with a copy of any request or order made. The disclosure of information officer will be responsible for retrieving the information and forwarding this to the Family Division Lawyer.
6. The Family Division Lawyer will follow up as required in order to ensure that the information is received by the court in time, and will receive the statement before forwarding it on as instructed by the judge or court making the request.