The Circuit Family Law Courts will shortly begin the scheduling of remote divorce and judicial separation consent rulings where parties are legally represented and which have already received a court date.

Important points

• The remote appointment can only take place if the parties are present in his/her solicitor’s office at the specified date and time,
• Virtual meeting room (VMR) licences will only issue to the legal representatives of both parties,
• Only one party need attend the virtual hearing provided the legal representatives of both parties do so,
• If practitioners or their client(s) cannot attend remotely on the date offered, then the case will be re-scheduled for another date,
• Applications for new consent rulings/settlements will also be offered remote hearings as soon as possible should restrictions continue.

Unfortunately, due to Government guidelines and the current restrictions due to COVID-19, the circuit family law office cannot offer physical hearings at present, the Courts Service has said.

Remote consent ruling

Letters from the circuit family law office will issue shortly with details of the access link and the date and time for the remote consent ruling.

Urgent matters will continue to be dealt with remotely upon application to the circuit family law office.

In addition, pension adjustment orders and consent applications for the release of child psychologist and voice of the child reports will continue to be dealt with by a judge in chambers.