Family Division

Email guidance

When you e-mail the Principal Registry the subject line of your mail must contain one or more of the following:

• the case file reference number
• if relating to a hearing, the date and time of the hearing
• if you are making a complaint, please add the word 'complaint'

You may not file any document in Family Proceedings by e-mail unless given leave to do by the Judge; otherwise any attachment intended for filing will be disregarded.

When you email us you will receive an automated response acknowledging receipt of your e-mail. A further response will be sent within five working days, which will either answer your query or indicate when you will receive a reply and in what form

Please note that the court may consider that due to the content of its proposed response, it may not be appropriate to reply to your enquiry by e-mail. In such circumstances we will inform you of our intention.

It would be helpful to provide a contact telephone number, as it may be easier to talk with you, rather than go into correspondence.

If you decide to contact us by e-mail, please do not communicate the same message in another format e.g. letter or fax as this will lead to duplication of work and cause delays.