News and Insights

The Children Rules ‘2005’ have been replaced by the updated Children Rules ‘2025’, introducing a modern, child-centred framework designed to improve fairness, efficiency, and safeguarding in children’s proceedings in Jersey. Click here to view the Children Rules 2025.

The 2025 Rules come into force today (24 November 2025) and mark a significant reform of procedural children law in Jersey. Click here for the Children (Jersey) Law 2002.

The Children Rules 2025 deliver a number of important updates, including:

• Granting the court the ability to order parties to partake in alternative dispute resolution, including financial dispute resolution (FDRs) and Family Foundation.
• New procedures for obtaining parental orders, including guidance for applications arising from surrogacy agreements.
• Jersey Family Court Advisory Service (JFCAS) now has a clearly defined role in proceedings.
• Stronger protections around the handling of sensitive documents and disclosures in proceedings.
• Granting the court the ability to meet the child who is subject to the proceedings to discuss their wishes and feelings, provided the child consents and JFCAS consider it appropriate.

These new rules reflect the progress which has been made in the family justice system over the past two decades. The focus is now on reducing conflict between parties, ensuring children’s voices are heard and protected and ensuring matters are dealt with proportionately and responsibly.