The 2026 Financial Remedies Guide, issued by the National Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court on 13 March 2026, marks a significant step toward a more streamlined, digital, and disciplined approach to financial remedy litigation.
The Guide applies to all FRC cases — across High Court, Circuit Judge, and District Judge levels — and aims to improve efficiency, consistency, and access to justice in financial disputes arising from relationship breakdown.
Background: why this Guide now
The Financial Remedies Court was formally established on 24 February 2021 after a successful pilot launched in 2018. The core documents underpinning the FRC needed updating to reflect:
- The revised PD27A which came into force on 2 March 2026
- Various updates to practice and procedure promulgated by Notices issued by the National Leadership of the FRC since 2021
- Other relevant developments in the family justice system
Rather than issue a series of separate updates, the decision was taken to bring everything together in one coherent document — the Financial Remedies Guide. Practitioners and litigants are now expected to treat this Guide as the essential “one-stop” reference, and to comply rigorously with its requirements. The High Court Efficiency Statement (2016) and the Efficiency Statement for cases below High Court level (2022) have been merged and incorporated within the Guide.
Key objectives of the FRC
- Deliver fair outcomes in financial disputes
- Manage cases efficiently and proportionately
- A strong focus on Non-Court Dispute Resolution and a clear duty to negotiate
- Clear procedural expectations across all stages — from First Appointment to Final Hearing
- Stricter requirements on bundles, witness statements, and position statements to improve efficiency and reduce court burden
Non-court dispute resolution and the duty to negotiate
The Guide emphasises that parties should try to resolve disputes without full litigation where possible. This includes:
- Non-Court Dispute Resolution such as mediation or arbitration (Guide paragraphs 21-28)
- A duty on parties to negotiate constructively before hearings (Guide paragraph 30)
The Guide reinforces proportionality, early preparation, and cooperation between parties. It formalises best practice while maintaining continuity with existing procedures. Where mediation or arbitration are not appropriate, parties are still expected to attempt narrowing the issues by direct negotiation before each court stage.
Allocation: how cases are assigned
The Guide updates the allocation process (paragraphs 31-42), which determines whether a case is heard by a District Judge, Circuit Judge or High Court Judge.
Notable change: the threshold for allocation to High Court level rises from £15 million to £20 million. Below £20m, cases are presumed to be allocated to Circuit Judge level unless complexity warrants High Court treatment. For most practitioners and litigants this is the headline procedural shift.
Freezing and Hemain injunctions
The general practice for freezing injunctions and Hemain injunctions (paragraphs 47-50) is now ordinarily for them to be heard in the family court at any level rather than in the High Court specifically. This is intended to make urgent protective relief more accessible without routing every application through the High Court list.
Procedural stages — from First Appointment to Final Hearing
The Guide sets out the steps required at each stage of the financial remedies process (paragraphs 51-79). The familiar shape of proceedings — First Appointment, Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR), Final Hearing — is preserved, but the expectations at each stage are tightened: parties should arrive prepared, have negotiated in good faith, and have complied with disclosure obligations in full.
Documents and preparation rules
The Guide places clear, sharper requirements on the documents that come before the court:
- Court bundles and document format (paragraphs 81-87)
- Witness statements, including Section 25 statements (paragraph 80)
- Position statements (paragraphs 88-92)
- Draft orders submitted to the court (paragraphs 93-96)
The intent is to reduce wasted court time on poorly organised material and to encourage practitioners to invest more effort in the preparation phase rather than at the hearing itself.
What stays the same
Well-established financial remedies procedure has not been substantively amended. The Guide consolidates and tightens — it does not reinvent. Practitioners familiar with the existing pathway will recognise the structure, but the expectations around discipline, preparation, and good-faith negotiation are now formalised and explicit.
What this means in practice
For separating couples and their legal advisers, the practical impact of the Guide is threefold:
- More pressure to settle early. With a clear duty to negotiate and explicit references to non-court dispute resolution, parties who litigate every issue without genuine attempts to settle will face judicial scepticism — and potential cost consequences.
- Higher document standards. Section 25 statements, position statements, draft orders, and bundles must meet the Guide’s specific requirements. Sloppy preparation is now a procedural failing, not merely an inconvenience.
- Different forum for £15m-£20m cases. Cases at the boundary of complexity that previously would have been allocated to the High Court will now generally sit with Circuit Judges, unless complexity factors apply.
How RakLAW can help
Our Family Law team advises on financial remedy proceedings at every stage — from pre-application negotiation and mediation, through to First Appointment, FDR, and Final Hearing. We also draft consent orders, Section 25 statements, position statements, and represent clients before the FRC at all levels.
If you are considering separation or are already in the financial remedies process and want a second opinion on strategy, see our Family Law services or book a free 15-minute consultation.
Authoritative source
The full notice, the Guide itself, and the updated FRC zone/lead judge documentation are published on the judiciary website: Financial Remedies Guide 2026 — Judiciary of England and Wales.
The Guide takes effect upon issue of the notice (13 March 2026). Practitioners should download the latest version of the FRC Guide PDF from the judiciary site rather than relying on any earlier version.