The Family Actions Users Group met on 3 March 2026 in Parliament House, Edinburgh.

The Group provides a forum for consultation, discussion and feedback between judges, clerks and practitioners involved in the conduct of family proceedings in the Court of Session.

The following matters arose:

• Lord Braid welcomed Caroline Millar to her first meeting as a permanent solicitor member of the Group.

• There was a discussion around a recent occasion on which parties had agreed between themselves to extend the period of adjustment until just before the pre-proof hearing. The court’s expectation is that parties do not make these types of informal arrangements.

• The issue of one party consulting with a jointly instructed, or court-appointed, expert in the absence of the other party was discussed, following a recent instance of that happening.  The family judges are to produce guidance for agents around this topic.

• Parties should not assume that a preliminary proof will always be fixed where there is  a dispute as to relevant date. In some cases that may be appropriate, in others not.  Where a preliminary proof is fixed – on that, or some other issue – the court may devise a bespoke timetable for adjustment and productions.