Form 11: Case management without notice
Form 11 is for certain requests about how a case runs that a judge may be allowed to decide without telling the other side first or holding a court appearance. The judge can still require notice or attendance.
The court may still require notice, further evidence or attendance. Filing Form 11 does not itself change the existing procedural requirements.
Form 10 or Form 11? Use Form 10 for an ordinary case-management application with notice. Form 11 is limited to orders allowed under Rule 65 (and other specific rules); a judge or family justice manager can still require notice or attendance.
When can you use Form 11?
Under Rule 65(1), Form 11 is available for the particular case-management orders in Rule 62(g)–(k) and Rule 63(2)(a)–(b). These include certain service or notice requirements, rule-based time limits, and methods of appearing in court. It is not a general shortcut for deciding parenting time, support or other substantive family-law issues.
Examples of the limited orders Form 11 can request
The following are procedural requests allowed under the specific provisions identified; they do not decide whether a parenting or support claim succeeds.
- Another way to serve court papers: Rule 62(i), such as asking permission for an alternative method after documented unsuccessful service attempts.
- A change to a deadline or procedural requirement: Rule 62(j) or an eligible family-justice-manager power under Rule 63(2)(a). The order must actually be granted before relying on the change.
- A different way to attend court: Rule 62(k) or Rule 63(2)(b), where the requested attendance method is within the decision-maker’s powers.
Other uses, including certain priority-parenting service requests under Rule 78 and federal-information requests under Rule 65.1, have their own conditions. Read the official Form 11 guidebook (PDF) before selecting a box.
How to prepare Form 11
- Identify the exact procedural order you want and the part of Rule 62 or 63 that authorizes it.
- Enter the correct registry, court file details and party information on the official form.
- State the specific change you want and explain why the documents can be considered without the usual notice or attendance.
- Include supporting evidence or documents that establish the relevant facts, such as attempts to serve or a scheduling conflict.
- File the completed Form 11 and required materials with the registry. Check for further court directions rather than assuming approval.
What can the judge or family justice manager do?
Rule 65(2) permits the decision-maker to approve and sign the order, request more information, require attendance, direct that notice be given or refuse the application with reasons. Filing Form 11 does not itself change a deadline, service requirement or court appearance.
What must be served after an order?
If an order is made without notice under Rule 65, the applicant must generally serve each other party with the order, Form 11 and all supporting documents under Rule 65(3). A specific federal-information disclosure exception may apply under Rule 65.1(4) if the court orders it. A request only to dispense with attendance is not automatically permission to withhold the order.
Special federal-information request (Rule 65.1)
Rule 65.1 allows a specific case-management request under Rule 62(g.1) relating to federal family-information disclosure. It has separate statutory requirements. If an individual applies without notice, the application must include a recent criminal record check and the affidavit required under Rule 65.1(2). Do not treat the ordinary Form 11 checklist as a complete package for these requests.
Special use for priority parenting matters
Rule 78 permits a party seeking a priority parenting order using Form 15 to use Form 11 to request an order waiving or changing service requirements under Rule 77. The judge may still give directions about how much notice to provide and how to serve it. A Form 11 request is not a substitute for Form 15 itself.
Worked example
A party documents unsuccessful attempts to deliver court papers and seeks permission to use another method of service. They identify Rule 62(i), explain their attempts in Form 11 and attach supporting evidence. The court decides whether the change can be made and whether notice or attendance is required.
Avoid this mistake
Do not simply write “urgent” and assume that other parties can be bypassed. Check whether Form 10 with ordinary notice is the correct process, and keep tracking existing deadlines unless the court changes them.