
2023 No. 167
Family ProceedingsCourt Of JudicatureCounty Court
The Family Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023
Made 10th October 2023
Coming into operation 1st November 2023

The Department of Justice, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 116(1) of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 and now vested in it, makes the following Order with the concurrence of the Department of Finance.

The Department has, in accordance with section 116(1) of that Act, consulted with the Lady Chief Justice.
Citation and commencement

1 
This Order may be cited as the Family Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 and shall come into operation on 1st November 2023.
Amendment of the Family Proceedings Fees Order (Northern Ireland) 1996

2 
The Family Proceedings Fees Order (Northern Ireland) 1996 is amended as follows.
3 
For the Schedule substitute the new Schedule set out in the Schedule to this Order.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Justice on 10th October 2023
Richard Pengelly
A senior officer of the Department of Justice
The Department of Finance concurs in the making of this Order.Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 10th October 2023
Patrick Neeson
A senior officer of the Department of Finance

SCHEDULE
Article 3
“
SCHEDULE
Article 4

Fees to be taken in Family Proceedings

Column 1 Column 2  Column 3
Item Fee £  Document to be endorsed
   As from 01/11/23 As from 01/10/24 
1. Commencement of Proceedings   
     
 (a) On sealing an originating summons 284.00 310.00 The filed copy
     
 (b) On sealing any petition other than a second petition presented with leave granted under rule 2.6(3) or (3A)—   
     
  (i) When the petition is presented to the High Court 284.00 310.00 The filed copy
     
  (ii) When the petition is presented to a county court 284.00 310.00 The filed copy
     
 (c) On filing an answer/reply to a petition/answer 142.00 155.00 The filed copy
     
 (d) Personal Application Fee for a matrimonial interview 71.00 77.00 The requisition
     
 NOTE: Fees to include provision for the number of initial copies required for service
     
2. Entering and Setting Down for trial in court   
     
 On entering or setting down any cause or matter for trial, hearing or further consideration in court, except where it is otherwise provided for in this Schedule   
     
 (a) High Court petition 427.00 465.00 The setting down docket
     
 (b) County Court petition 356.00 388.00 The setting down docket
     
     
3. Certificate of Decree Absolute or Final Order   
     
 On filing an application for a certificate of Decree Absolute or Making Conditional Order Final 107.00 117.00 The filed copy
     
4. Proceedings under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995   
     
 On filing an application or requesting leave under the following provisions of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995—   
     
 Parental Responsibility, Guardians, Article 8 orders   
     
 (a) Article 7(1)(a) or (4), 10(1) or (2), 159(1);   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 142.00 155.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 107.00 117.00 
     
 (b) Article 13(1) or 163(1)   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 107.00 117.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 82.00 89.00 
     
 Financial Provision for Children   
     
 (c) Paragraph 2(1), 3(1), 7(5), 16(1) of Schedule 1   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 142.00 155.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 107.00 117.00 
     
 (d) Paragraph 2(4), 3(5), 6(6), 7(7), 7(8), 10(2), 12(2) or 13 of Schedule 1   
     
  (i) High Court 107.00 117.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 82.00 89.00 
     
 Secure Accommodation   
     
 (e) Article 44   
     
  (i) High Court 142.00 155.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 107.00 117.00 
     
     
     
 Care, Supervision etc   
     
 (f) Article 50   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 142.00 155.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 107.00 117.00 
     
 (g) Article 52(7), 57(8)(b), 58(1), (2), (3) or (4), paragraph 6(3) of Schedule 3 or paragraph 10(3) of Schedule 8   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 107.00 117.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 82.00 89.00 
     
 Contact with child in care   
     
 (h) Article 53(2), (3), (4) or (9)   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 107.00 117.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 82.00 89.00 
     
 Placement abroad   
     
 (i) Article 33(1)   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 107.00 117.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 82.00 89.00 
     
 Education Supervision   
     
 (j) Article 55(1)   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 142.00 155.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 107.00 117.00 
     
 (k) Paragraph 5(2) or 7(1) of Schedule 4   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 107.00 117.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 82.00 89.00 
     
 Child Assessment   
     
 (l) Article 62(1)   The filed copy
  (i) High Court 142.00 155.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 107.00 117.00 
     
 (m) Article 62(12)   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 107.00 117.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 82.00 89.00 
     
 Emergency Protection   
     
 (n) Article 63   
     
  (i) High Court 0.00 0.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 0.00 0.00 
     
 Recovery of Children   
     
 (o) Article 69   
     
  (i) High Court 142.00 155.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 107.00 117.00 
     
 Miscellaneous   
     
 (p) Article 178   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 107.00 117.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 82.00 89.00 
     
 (q) On commencing an appeal under Article 166 or Article 41(11)   
     
  (i) to the County Court 107.00 117.00 
     
  (ii) to the High Court 142.00 155.00 
     
 (r) On any application brought under form C2   
     
  (i) High Court 107.00 117.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 82.00 89.00 
     
 NOTE: Where an application requires leave of the court the relevant fee applies where leave is sought but no further fee may be charged if leave is granted and the application is made
     
5. Proceedings under the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998   
     
 (a) Application for a non-molestation or occupation order   
     
  (i) High Court 0.00 0.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 0.00 0.00 
     
 (b) On an ex-parte (emergency) application 0.00 0.00 
     
 (c) On the full application 0.00 0.00 
     
 (d) Application under the Family Homes and Domestic Violence Order not otherwise provided for 0.00 0.00 
     
6. Application for Ancillary Relief   
     
 On filing a notice of application for ancillary relief   The filed copy
     
  (i) High Court 427.00 465.00 
     
  (ii) County Court 356.00 388.00 
     
7.  Other Application in Proceedings   
     
 (a) On any application in matrimonial proceedings or civil partnership proceedings, except where it is otherwise provided for in this Schedule, or is for an order by consent, made   
     
  (i) to a Master 165.00 180.00 The filed copy
     
  (ii) to a judge 213.00 232.00 The filed copy
     
 (b) Ex-parte application to remove a petitioner’s address from the petition 82.00 89.00 
     
8.  Writ of Subpoena & Witness Summonses   
     
  On sealing a writ of subpoena or issuing a witness summons per person 43.00 47.00 The filed copy
     
9. Copies of Documents   
     
  On a copy, including a photographic copy, of all or any part of any document not otherwise provided for—   
     
 (a) five sheets or less 7.00 8.00 The requisition
     
 (b) for each sheet thereafter 0.50 0.50 The requisition
     
 (c) on a copy order/decree including certified or sealed 15.00 16.00 
     
 (d) on a copy order/decree produced online 13.00 14.00 
     
 (e) on an audio recording in any court proceedings – for each hour recorded or part thereof 37.00 40.00 
     
10. Searches and Inspections   
     
 (a) On making a search in the index of Parental Responsibility Agreements kept in the Office of Care and Protection in accordance with regulations made under Article 7 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and, if appropriate providing a copy of an agreement 28.00 31.00 The requisition
     
 (b) (i) On a search (including inspection) other than one for which a fee is prescribed under 10(a) above 28.00 31.00 The requisition
     
  (ii) Additional fee where the search is carried out by an Officer of the court 15.00 16.00 
     
 (c) For an official certificate of the result of a search in any index 43.00 47.00 The requisition
     
     
     
11. Miscellaneous   
     
 (a) For signing, settling or approving an advertisement 43.00 47.00 The requisition
     
 (b) On a request for certification of a pending action required under Rule 91(3) of the Land Registration Rules (Northern Ireland) 1994 or section 3(2) of the Registration of Deeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 98.00 107.00 The form to be certified
     
12. Appeals   
     
 (a) On filing a notice of appeal from a Master to a judge in chambers 284.00 310.00 The filed copy
     
     
 (b) On entering any appeal (including an interlocutory appeal) to the Court of Appeal 711.00 775.00 The notice of appeal or requisition
     
13. Taxation   
     
 (a) On lodgement of a bill of costs. Provided that where the bill is taxed credit for this fee is to be given against the final amount payable 5% of original bill 5% of original bill The bill
     
 (b) On the taxation of a bill of costs—   
     
  Where the amount allowed does not exceed £5 1.00 1.00 The bill
     
  Where the amount allowed exceeds £5 but does not exceed £100, for every £1 or fraction thereof— 0.20 0.20 The bill
     
  Where the amount allowed exceeds £100—   
     
  (i) for the first £100 30.00 30.00 The bill
     
  (ii) for every £1 or fraction thereof over £100 0.20 0.20 The bill
     
 (c) On withdrawal of a bill of costs which has been lodged for taxation In addition to 13(a) such fee (not exceeding the amount which would have been payable under Fee No. 13(b) if the bill had been allowed in full) as shall appear to the Taxing Master to be fair and reasonable having regard to the amount of work done in the office  
    
   
 NOTE: In addition to 13(b) the Taxing Master may in any case require the bill of costs to be stamped before taxation with the whole or part of the amount of fees which would be payable if the bill were allowed by him at the full amount thereof.
     
14. Enforcement   
     
  On any application for enforcement of a matrimonial order or civil partnership order 213.00 232.00 The filed copy”