
1 

(1) These Rules may be cited as the Family Proceedings (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2005 and shall come into operation on 18th April 2005.
(2) In these Rules “the principal Rules” means the Family Proceedings Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996.
2 
The Principal Rules shall be amended as follows:
(a) in rule 1.3 for the definition of “Master” there shall be substituted the following definition –“
 “Master” means
(a) in relation to proceedings in the High Court, the Master (High Court) or the Master (Care and Protection) as the case may be; and
(b) in relation to proceedings in a county court a district judge;”; and
(b) in rule 4.17 after paragraph (6) add the following new paragraph –“
(7) The court may hold a directions appointment by telephone or by using any other method of direct oral communication.”.
Brian Kerr
Patrick Markey
John Gillen
R. McLaughlin
Dated 15th March 2005Signed by the authority of the Lord ChancellorI concur
Baroness Ashton of Upholland
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,
Department for Constitutional Affairs
Dated 17th March 2005