The Government recognises the link between animal cruelty and domestic abuse. Statutory guidance issued under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 is clear that harming, threatening to harm, or using pets to control, coerce or intimidate a victim can constitute domestic abuse, including controlling or coercive behaviour and emotional or psychological abuse. Statutory guidance on Coercive and Controlling Behaviour, an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2015, also clearly recognises such abuse.

In its Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, published last December, the Government committed to updating both the Domestic Abuse and the Coercive or Controlling Behaviour Statutory Guidance by the end of 2026, to ensure they remain aligned with the current domestic abuse landscape and best practice, including on the linkages with animal and pet abuse. Both sets of guidance are aimed at frontline professionals working with victims and perpetrators, including the police, Crown Prosecution Service, probation, courts and other criminal justice agencies.

In the VAWG Strategy, to ensure that no opportunity is missed to protect victims and survivors, including those with pets, the Government also committed to:

• Commencing a research project, to explore the connection between pet abuse and domestic abuse, to identify intervention opportunities and equip relevant stakeholders.
• Working with the veterinary profession to support initiatives designed to help vets and practice staff recognise potential signs of domestic abuse through non-accidental injuries.
• Strengthening the pet microchipping regime to prevent the records of domestic abuse victims and survivors being accessed inappropriately.
• Working with charities to increase the awareness of services available for the pets of domestic abuse victims and survivors, to support more victims to escape abuse.

The Ministry of Justice publish regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in our quarterly family court statistics bulletin Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK. According to the published data in the Family Court Statistics Quarterly, the overall timeliness (both mean weeks and median weeks) has remained stable since Q1 of 2025 to the most recently published Q1 of 2026. There has been an improvement in the timeliness (both mean weeks and median weeks) from the figures in 2024. The published data shows that timeliness figures vary between case types, whether it is a paper or a digital application, whether the case has had to be stopped to request further information.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service have invested in more staff in 2026, alongside system, process improvements and a programme of upskilling to improve the processing time for applications and maintain the low level of outstanding caseload.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has checked the application referred to. The application cannot currently be granted as further enquiries need to be made before a grant can be issued.

HMCTS apologises for the delay in progressing this application. The applicant is being updated and, once the relevant enquiries have been completed, the application will be processed as quickly as possible.

The Government is committed to ensuring that victims can access the information and support they need. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 created a framework to monitor certain criminal justice agencies' compliance with the Victims' Code (“the Code”), including legislative duties for agencies to collect and share information on Code compliance.

Work is underway with criminal justice agencies on the underlying data that will support the development of the framework.

The total present value cost of implementing the new Victims’ Code is estimated to be £11.9 million over a 10-year appraisal period. This includes costs that the police and HMPPS will incur associated with increased interaction with victims. This estimate is based on the draft new Code which we recently consulted on and a full breakdown of the cost benefit analysis can be found in the impact assessment published alongside that consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-new-victims-code.

We are now taking the time to consider nearly 200 responses we received in response to the consultation. We will issue a public response ahead of finalising and then implementing the new Code.

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date.

This funding includes:

- Funding for Police and Crime Commissioners who ensure victims can access local support that is best suited for them, including ring-fenced funding for community domestic abuse and sexual violence services

- The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund (RASASF) which funds 60 local specialist support services for sexual violence victims and survivors

- A national 24/7 sexual violence helpline

- The National Homicide Service

- The National Witness Service

In addition to the £550 million for support services in England and Wales, the Government is also investing £6 million over the next two years to deliver free, Independent Legal Advisers (ILAs) for victims of adult rape and assault by penetration to help them to understand their legal rights and navigate the legal system.

This work forms part of the wider cross-government VAWG strategy, with activity being undertaken across a number of departments to deliver a coordinated approach to preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also announced it is providing £499 million over the next three years to ensure vital support in domestic abuse safe accommodation is available to all victims when they need it.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice ran a consultation on a new Victims’ Code to make sure we get the foundations right for victims. The consultation sought the view of sector experts, criminal justice practitioners, young people and victims themselves on a number of proposals to ensure victims needs are met, and how to raise awareness and understanding of the Code. We are now taking time to consider responses, and we will issue a public response ahead of finalising the new Code and bringing it into force.

There is no maximum time limit during which personal representatives must apply for a grant to administer an estate, or to distribute an estate after probate has been granted. The existing legal framework offers flexibility, accepting that the probate process is a complex one undertaken at an emotional time for many relatives.

A personal representative is under a statutory duty to administer the deceased person’s estate according to the law and without undue delay. They can be held liable if they mis-administer the estate.

There are legitimate reasons why it may take time fully to distribute an estate. For example, it may require the sale of a property or the settling of tax issues. If beneficiaries have concerns about the administration of the estate, they can make an application to the court to compel a personal representative to provide an inventory and account of their administration of an estate. In addition, applications can be made to remove and replace a personal executive where there are grounds to do so.

The Ministry of Justice regularly publishes data in our quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK. This includes data on probate timeliness (including intetancy cases) together with the open caseload.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff in 2026, together with system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling in order to improve the processing time for applications and maintain the low level of outstanding caseload.

There is no maximum time limit during which personal representatives must apply for a grant to administer an estate, or to distribute an estate after probate has been granted. The existing legal framework offers flexibility, accepting that the probate process is a complex one undertaken at an emotional time for many relatives.

A personal representative is under a statutory duty to administer the deceased person’s estate according to the law and without undue delay. They can be held liable if they mis-administer the estate.

There are legitimate reasons why it may take time fully to distribute an estate. For example, it may require the sale of a property or the settling of tax issues. If beneficiaries have concerns about the administration of the estate, they can make an application to the court to compel a personal representative to provide an inventory and account of their administration of an estate. In addition, applications can be made to remove and replace a personal executive where there are grounds to do so.

The Ministry of Justice regularly publishes data in our quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK. This includes data on probate timeliness (including intetancy cases) together with the open caseload.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff in 2026, together with system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling in order to improve the processing time for applications and maintain the low level of outstanding caseload.

The Government has announced that it intends to reform weddings law when parliamentary time allows.

The reforms are intended to make weddings law fairer, simpler and more modern, whilst protecting the dignity and significance of marriage. The aim is to launch a consultation before summer recess, which begins on 16 July 2026. It will focus on how people get married, rather than who is legally permitted to marry.

As set out in the answer of 11 November 2024, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 makes sexual activity with certain family members a criminal offence, but this does not include first cousins. Placing restrictions on first cousin marriage would require changes to the Marriage Act 1949 and could potentially require changes to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

While the evidence is limited, it does suggest that there may be an increased risk of congenital birth defects to children whose parents are first cousins. We welcome evidence suggesting that the number of first cousins choosing to marry in England is declining.

The Government has announced that it intends to reform weddings law when parliamentary time allows.

The reforms are intended to make weddings law fairer, simpler and more modern, whilst protecting the dignity and significance of marriage. The aim is to launch a consultation before summer recess, which begins on 16 July 2026. It will focus on how people get married, rather than who is legally permitted to marry.

As set out in the answer of 11 November 2024, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 makes sexual activity with certain family members a criminal offence, but this does not include first cousins. Placing restrictions on first cousin marriage would require changes to the Marriage Act 1949 and could potentially require changes to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

While the evidence is limited, it does suggest that there may be an increased risk of congenital birth defects to children whose parents are first cousins. We welcome evidence suggesting that the number of first cousins choosing to marry in England is declining.

Grants of representation(1) applied for by language submitted in, England and Wales

Annually 2021 to 2025

Source: HMCTS Core Case Data

Notes:

1) All grant types including letters of administration with/without a Will

2) Total applications do not include where the grant type is not specified/missing

Due to revisions these figures may differ slightly to those published in Family Court Statistics Quarterly.

The Government is committed to delivering a new route for victims to request information about their offender as soon as practicable, and we are working with operational partners to ensure that implementation of the helpline is trauma-informed and effective. Work is underway and we expect to confirm timelines soon.

Victims eligible and opted into the Victim Contact Scheme will be notified of an offender’s release, in line with existing practice. Supporting victims and ensuring they are informed remains a key priority.

The Government recognises that applying for probate can be a difficult process for bereaved families. Before introducing the increase in the probate application fee to £526, the Ministry of Justice undertook a full Impact Assessment, including an assessment of the equalities impacts of the change in line with its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty. This was published alongside the Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026 on 19 June 2026. This fee increase is intended to recover the cost of delivering the probate service, taking account of rising costs from inflation and investment in a modern and efficient service and ensuring that the service has the resources necessary to continue to deliver effectively. Estates valued below £5,000 will continue to be exempt from paying a fee.

For those who may be unable to afford a fee, the Help with Fees remission scheme remains available to eligible applicants. In addition, where an applicant does not qualify for Help with Fees, they may ask court or tribunal staff to exercise the Lord Chancellor’s exceptional power to remit fees. This ensures that no one is denied access to justice because they cannot reasonably afford a court or tribunal fee.

Judicial decisions in proceedings in the family courts relating to child arrangements are a matter for the independent judiciary, applying the relevant law.

The Government recognises the important role that both parents play in a child’s life where that involvement is safe, meaningful and positive. We are committed to delivering reforms to the family courts to ensure that the child’s best interests remain at the heart of decision-making.

The child’s welfare must be the court’s paramount consideration and the court must have particular regard to the factors set out in the ‘welfare checklist’ in the Children Act 1989, such as the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned, the impact on the child of any change in circumstances, and how capable each parent is of meeting the child’s needs. Where parental involvement is safe and in the best interests of the child, maintaining the child’s relationship with both parents will be supported by the court.

A key part of our reforms is the repeal of the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989 which will change the process of decision-making in family courts in order to ensure that courts make an open-minded assessment of what is in the child’s best interests when making decisions about parental involvement. Courts will continue to make orders for a parent to be involved in a child’s life where that is safe and in the child’s best interests.

The national rollout of the Child Focused Courts will ensure that courts have the information they need to make that assessment effectively. The model frontloads information gathering and risk assessment through the introduction of the Child Impact Report, which provides an assessment of issues through engagement with the parties, the children, and relevant agencies. This report is reviewed by a judge or legal adviser prior to final orders being made or a hearing taking place. This approach increases the evidence available to judges earlier in the case, and reduces the number of cases returning to court, protecting children and families from further trauma.

Together, these reforms equip courts to make safe and informed decisions about child arrangements while still recognising the important role that both parents play in a child’s life where that involvement is in the best interests of the child.

The National Audit Office report Improving family court services for children, published in May 2025, recommended the Ministry of Justice, Department for Education, HMCTS and Cafcass should develop and publish a strategy setting out their shared plans for improving the family justice system. This strategy is currently being developed with the aim of publishing it later this year.

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date. One of the aims of our funding is to support victims on their journey with the criminal justice system. Examples of our funding include the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund (RASASF) which funds 60 local specialist support services for sexual violence victims and survivors, a national 24/7 sexual violence helpline, and the national Homicide Service. We keep the availability of specialist support under continual review and work closely with Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and service providers to understand gaps.

To ensure that victims are supported to navigate the justice system, we specifically invest in services that provide advocacy, advice and information about the criminal justice process. This includes FLOWS (Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors) a specialist service proved by the RCJ Advice, who deliver free and confidential legal advice for women survivors of domestic abuse on obtaining protective orders from the courts. FLOWS can assist all women, whether or not they qualify for legal aid.

Recognising that many witnesses are also victims of crime, and may need help to navigate the court process, we also commission the National Witness Service, which provides emotional and practical support to both prosecution and defence witnesses in all the criminal courts in England and Wales to enable them to give their best evidence.

In addition to the £550 million for support services, the Government is also investing £6 million over the next two years to deliver free, Independent Legal Advisers (ILAs) for victims of adult rape and assault by penetration to help them to understand their legal rights. ILAs will be able to provide victims with the support they need to navigate the justice system. The competition to identify a grant provider for the service is now live, and the service will be rolled out later this year.

The criteria for the remission of or exemption from fees are prescribed in secondary legislation, namely the Public Guardian (Fees etc.) Regulations 2007 (Fees Regulations). The Fees Regulations require the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to grant a full exemption from fees if the applicant is in receipt of a number of qualifying benefits; these include income-related Employment and Support Allowance but not Universal Credit.

Where the applicant is not eligible for one of the qualifying benefits, but their gross annual income does not exceed £12,000, the Fees Regulations require OPG to grant a 50% remission of fees. The Fees Regulations provide OPG with a discretionary power to reduce or remit (but not exempt) fees if the applicant is in receipt of Universal Credit.

OPG’s operational practice is to include any income derived from Universal Credit as a component of gross annual income when assessing applications for a 50% remission of fees. Applicants who were previously in receipt of Income-related Employment and Support Allowance but have been migrated to Universal Credit will therefore no longer be eligible for a full exemption of fees but they will be eligible for a 50% remission of fees provided their gross annual income does not exceed £12,000.

OPG has recently published updated guidance on the application process for an exemption or remission of fees which is available on Gov.UK. This includes a breakdown of the eligibility requirements for both an exemption and a 50% remission of fees and the evidence required to support the application. This includes instructions for applications where the applicant is in receipt of Universal Credit.

In the 2024 to 2025 financial year, OPG exempted or remitted fees for103,333 powers of attorney applications. The total value of fees exempted or remitted was £8.471 million.

OPG remains committed to ensuring that its services are accessible to everyone, which includes those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The Fees Regulations provide OPG with a discretionary power to reduce or remit fees further if the payment of a given fee would involve undue hardship to the applicant. Where applicants provide evidence that payment of OPG fees would incur significant financial hardship, OPG will agree to a reduction of the fee, taking into account the specific circumstances of the case.

The running costs for the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner for the last full year 2024/2025 was £859,698 of a total budget of £887,000. A breakdown of this is outlined on page 55 of the recently published annual report: The Office of the Victims Commissioner Annual Report 2024/25

Whilst the Ministry of Justice is responsible for burial law and policy, the day-to-day operational oversight of burial provision is managed locally. Accordingly, decisions on management and administration in individual cases are matters for the relevant burial authority in accordance with the appropriate legal framework and any local regulations or terms and conditions of service.

The Government’s Guide for burial ground managers (8430_Burial Ground Managers) is intended to support the provision of best practice in all burial grounds. Paragraph 3.23 provides guidance on mitigating issues arising from informal memorialisation; and paragraph 2.26 outlines the statutory powers available to local authority burial providers to recover the costs of removing unauthorised memorials.

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the legislative framework to which local authorities’ provision of burial and cremation is subject. However, we do not have day-to-day operational oversight of public cemeteries and crematoria, which are managed locally in line with relevant priorities.

In addition, the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021 (Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021 - GOV.UK) requires all crematorium operators to display specified price information and supply it to customers and local funeral directors; to provide the CMA with specified revenue and volume information; and to provide an annual compliance statement to the CMA.

More generally, local authorities should ensure that publicity complies with all applicable statutory provisions, including the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity 2011 (1878324.pdf). Paid-for advertising must comply with the Advertising Standards Authority’s Advertising Codes.