HMCTS operational summary for week commencing Monday 10 January 2022

Next week’s update will be issued on Friday 14 January 2022.

• Reminder: Since Tuesday 13 December 2021, if you’re identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, you need to follow new guidance. Fully vaccinated contacts of a COVID-19 case should take a daily lateral flow test for 7 days to slow the spread of the virus.
• Reminder: Courts and tribunals in England, Scotland and Wales remain open for face to face hearings and still have COVID-19 safety measures 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. You should check your regional guidance in England, Scotland or Wales before attending our courts or tribunals.
• Reminder: We’re working hard to keep all our court users safe and it’s important that we all follow the guidance in place at our courts and tribunals. If you have any feedback, please use our escalation route for professional court users to raise any concerns – we want to hear from you.
• 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: Guidance on how you should prepare for a telephone or video court or tribunal hearing is available via GOV.UK.

Crime

• Reminder: If you have a Common Platform account, you need to login at least once every 90 days to keep it active. If your account is inactive for 90 days, it will be deregistered for security reasons. You will receive an automatic email notifying you before your account is deregistered: login to the system, and your account will remain live.
• Reminder: We published a ‘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.

Family

• Updated: On Wednesday 12 January 2022 MyHMCTS will be updated to comply with the new Inheritance Tax excepted estates regulations. More guidance on how to submit applications will be published on GOV.UK.

Tribunals

• Reminder: We’re hosting two webinars on E-Filing for the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) to assist practitioners and litigants in person to use the new service once it comes into effect. Webinars will take place on Tuesday 11 January and Thursday 13 January 2022. Registration for the webinars is open now.

Judicial guidance and announcements

• For the latest practice directions, advice, and guidance please visit the Judicial Office website.