What will happen in Court?
Directions appointments
Directions appointments are the initial hearings where the Deemster can set out any instructions he/she wants to give.
At a directions hearing, the Deemster may give directions in regards to:
- the future course of proceedings, e.g. whether any more directions hearings will be required;
- discovery; or
- any other proceedings connected to your divorce proceedings such as Financial Provision, or arrangements for children of the family.
Several directions hearings may be necessary to enable the Deemster to have all the relevant information available to him/her so he can make his/her decision.
At this stage the divorce application is the only one being decided. Although you have submitted a statement of arrangements for children, this is only a statement. Any Financial Provision or arrangements for children are separate applications and are dealt with separately. Unless the court raises concerns under s25 (1) of the Matrimonial Proceedings Act 2003, your Divorce proceedings cannot be held up by any other proceedings regarding children.
