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Medical experts for family and care proceedings.

Paediatric, psychiatric and psychological evidence for care proceedings and other family cases, with the expert details your Part 25 application needs. Send the questions and the hearing date. We take legally aided cases, and the search is free and can start before the court gives permission.

0121 752 6061 info@medicalexpertsforlawyers.co.uk

I need for case.

Expert rulesFPR Part 25With Practice Directions 25B and 25C
PermissionBefore you instructChildren and Families Act 2014, s13
Since 20 July 2026Regulated expertsFPR 25.5A, for children proceedings issued from that date
Timetable26 weeksCare and supervision cases, Children Act 1989, s32

These rules apply in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland are set out further down this page.

What you get for a family case.

Most of the work comes before the permission hearing, when the application needs the expert’s details.

Expert details for the application

Send the questions and the hearing date, leaving out names. You get each expert’s CV, fee and availability, ready for the Part 25 application.

Legal aid and registration

We take legally aided cases, and the quotes come within the legal aid rates. We check experts for registration and insurance, so you can tell the court whether the expert is regulated.

After permission

Once you instruct, a named case manager arranges the appointment and manages the instruction through to delivery of the report. Reports usually take 1 to 2 weeks, or 2 to 3 days when urgent. Timescales are estimates and depend on expert availability, the appointment and receipt of the relevant records.

Submit an enquiry Call 0121 752 6061

Which expert answers which question.

Tell us the question the court needs answered. If you are not sure which specialty fits, describe the issues and we will match the specialty to them.

The questionUsually answered bySee
How were the child’s injuries caused, and when? Often at a fact-finding hearingA paediatricianPaediatric expert evidence
How does a parent’s mental illness affect their care of the child, and what treatment would help?A psychiatristPsychiatric expert evidence
How do the parent’s cognitive functioning and personality affect their care of the child?A psychologistPsychological assessment in family proceedings
Can the parent conduct the proceedings, or do they need a litigation friend?A psychiatrist or psychologistCapacity to litigate
Submit an enquiry Call 0121 752 6061

Permission.

Permission comes before the instruction and before a child is assessed (Children and Families Act 2014, s13). Apply as soon as possible: in public law no later than the Case Management Hearing, in private law no later than the FHDRA (FPR 25.6).

Preliminary enquiries need no permission and are not a contempt of court (PD 25C para 3.4), so you can send us the case now, leaving out the family’s names; we hold the case papers until permission has been granted (para 3.3). Outside children proceedings, FPR 25.4 governs instead.

Submit an enquiry Call 0121 752 6061

Regulated experts from 20 July 2026.

The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2026 (SI 2026/699) changed who can give expert evidence in children proceedings.

In children proceedings issued on or after 20 July 2026, the court may only give permission under section 13 if the expert evidence is from a regulated expert (FPR 25.5A). A regulated expert is one regulated by a UK statutory body, on a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, or regulated by an approved regulator under the Legal Services Act 2007 (FPR 25.2(1)).

Doctors are regulated by the GMC, a statutory body, and practitioner psychologists by the HCPC. We check experts for registration and insurance, so you can tell the court whether the expert is regulated.

Submit an enquiry Call 0121 752 6061

Your Part 25 application.

Our reply gives you the expert’s details for the application. Practice Direction 25C, paras 3.10 and 3.11, list what the application and the draft order must contain.

The application coversFrom our replyFrom you
The discipline, qualifications and expertise of the expert, by CV where possible (a)The expert’s CV
Whether the expert is a regulated expert (aa)The registration shown on the CV (we check experts for registration and insurance)If you rely on FPR 25.5A(3), why no regulated expert is available (ab)
The expert’s availability and the timetable for the reportThe expert’s availabilityThe court timetable
The likely cost, how it is split between the parties, and any public fundingThe expert’s feeThe apportionment and the funding
The questions for the expert, in the draft order (3.11(b))The draft questions

Put your hearing dates in the enquiry, and each quote comes with the expert’s availability, so you can see who fits the twenty-six-week timetable (Children Act 1989, s32).

Submit an enquiry Call 0121 752 6061

Fees and legal aid in children cases.

England and Wales

  • The Legal Aid Agency will not pay fees or rates above those in the Remuneration Regulations unless prior authority has been granted
  • Prior authority is the only way to secure an hourly rate in advance of assessment (Legal Aid Agency family guidance, June 2026)

Scotland

  • For children’s legal aid, apply to SLAB online for prior approval before employing an expert
  • Forgetting to seek prior approval is not treated as a special reason for approval afterwards

Northern Ireland

  • The Legal Services Agency’s prior authority guidance applies to all new requests for expert witnesses made on or after 6 July 2026

Where the case justifies a higher rate, the quote sets out why, ready for the application. The rates are on our fees and legal aid page.

Submit an enquiry Call 0121 752 6061

Across the UK.

We find experts for family cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland too, so tell us the court. Section 13, Part 25 and the 26-week limit apply in England and Wales only.

England and Wales

  • Care and supervision orders: the threshold in the Children Act 1989, s31(2)
  • Permission under Children and Families Act 2014, s13, and FPR Part 25

Scotland

  • A children’s hearing decides whether a compulsory supervision order is needed, once the grounds in the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011, s67, are accepted or established
  • Where grounds are not accepted, the hearing can direct the Principal Reporter to apply to the sheriff to decide whether they are established (s93(2)(a))
  • Private law orders are made in the Court of Session or the sheriff court (Children (Scotland) Act 1995, s11). The expert gives evidence as a skilled witness

Northern Ireland

  • Care and supervision orders: the threshold in the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, art 50(2)
  • No one may cause the child to be medically or psychiatrically examined or assessed for expert evidence without the leave of the court (Family Proceedings Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996, r4.19)
Submit an enquiry Call 0121 752 6061

Questions about expert evidence in family cases.

For anything else about your case, call us.

Call 0121 752 6061
Can I speak to an expert before permission is given?

Yes, for preliminary enquiries, which need no permission (PD 25C para 3.4). Send us the issues and the dates without confidential papers, and we send you the CVs, fees and availability.

Does the regulated expert rule apply to my case?

Only to children proceedings issued on or after 20 July 2026 (SI 2026/699). The application must then state whether the expert is a regulated expert (PD 25C para 3.10(aa)).

Is the expert on the side of the parent or the local authority?

Neither. The expert’s duty is to help the court, and it overrides any obligation to whoever instructs or pays them (FPR 25.3).

Send the case. We find the experts.

  • The type of caseFamily, personal injury, criminal, immigration, employment…
  • The specialty, or the issuesIf you are not sure who you need, describe the medical questions
  • The court or tribunalAnd any directions already made about expert evidence
  • Your deadlineHearing, filing or limitation date
  • How the case is fundedLegal aid, private, CFA or insurer
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Send a case enquiry, obtain CVs and quotes in minutes

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Urgent case?0121 752 6061info@medicalexpertsforlawyers.co.uk

Tell us your deadline.

We send you the CVs, fees and availability of experts who can meet it.

Submit an enquiry Call 0121 752 6061