HMCTS Weekly Operational Update - Week commencing Monday 13 December 2021

HMCTS operational summary for week commencing Monday 13 December 2021

Next week's update will be issued on Friday 17 December 2021.

Update: The government has announced that England will move to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant. Find out what you must do to help prevent the spread. Courts and tribunals in England, Scotland and Wales remain open for face to face hearings and still have COVID-19 restrictions in place. For example, you must wear a mask in our buildings, unless you are exempt. Read our full COVID-19 guidance for more details.
Update: We published the report of an in-depth evaluation into remote hearings, undertaken earlier this year by IFF Research alongside our researchers. The evaluation aimed to better understand who attended remote hearings, the experience of users, and the attitudes of these people towards hearing cases in this way.
We published our 2021 Communications and Engagement Report following a survey of professional court and tribunal users earlier this year. We'll use the results to improve the way we communicate and engage with our stakeholders and professional users, building on the findings from our 2019 report.
Reminder: You can check which courts and tribunals will be closed over the Christmas period.
Reminder: We encourage individuals to take a free, rapid lateral flow COVID-19 test before coming to a court or tribunal. These are free and readily available in your local area, or to order online. Anyone who tests positive should self-isolate and follow the latest NHS advice.

Reminder: We published a new 'get started' web page for defence professionals using our Common Platform case management system. This page includes links to essential guidance and contact details for our service centre and the helpdesk.

Reminder: We're hosting the first of three webinars on E-filing for Court of Appeal to assist practitioners and litigants in person to use the new service once it comes into effect. The webinar will take place on Thursday 16 December 2021. Register for the event now. More information on the amendment to Practice Direction 510 is also available to practitioners and litigants in person.

Update: On 1 January 2022 the Inheritance Tax (Delivery of Accounts) (Excepted Estates) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 will come into force. We'll update MyHMCTS to accommodate the regulations in January 2022. Read our guidance on identifying excepted estates for more information.
Reminder: Since Monday 29 November 2021 local authorities and legal firms under the jurisdictions of Cheshire and Merseyside, Leeds, Wrexham, Brighton, Guildford, York, Portsmouth, West London, Northampton, Teesside, Norwich and Greater Manchester family courts should upload C110a applications for care and supervision orders and discharge of care and supervision orders online to the Family Public Law digital system. Supporting documents for applications required by the Family Court should also be uploaded to the system. Read more about applying for a family law order.