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Court Service has amended a range of family proceedings forms, Form A, Form A1, Form B and FM1. Changes relate to allowing applicants seeking a MIAM exemption to provide evidence of domestic violence within the past 60 months instead of 24 months based on changes made to Practice Direction 3A. This includes the inclusion of a new exemption on the ground of financial abuse. A definition has been included in the checklist to assist applicants with the criteria that will be applied by the courts to assist them in determining they this ground applies to them. The relevant forms have a new box for applicants to insert a FMC Registration Number. This box has been added to demonstrate a commitment to ensuring a high quality of mediation and the development of a single quality standard. As mediators with a Family Mediation Council accreditation are issued with a unique FMC registration number, authorised meditators are requested to enter this number in the box provided. Whilst mediators are requested to include this number, courts can continue to process applications even where the number is absent. Form D89 has also been amended.
The following amended forms are for use from 3 October 2016:-