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In force since 2026-06-22, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-10. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
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26 provisions
Title and introductory text
2026 No. 561
INSOLVENCY, ENGLAND AND WALES
COMPANIES
INDIVIDUALS
The Insolvency (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2026
Made
27th May 2026
Laid before Parliament
28th May 2026
Coming into force
22nd June 2026
The Lord Chancellor has consulted the committee existing for the purposes of section 413 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
The Lord Chancellor makes the following Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 411 and 412 of the Act, with the concurrence of the Chancellor of the High Court (by authority of the Lady Chief Justice under sections 411(7) and 412(6) of that Act) in relation to those rules which affect court procedure, and with the concurrence of the Secretary of State.
Propose a change1 Citation, commencement and extent
(1) These Rules may be cited as the Insolvency (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2026.
(2) These Rules extend to England and Wales only.
(3) These Rules come into force on 22nd June 2026.
Propose a change2 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
The Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 are amended as follows.
Propose a change3 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 1.2(2) (defined terms)—
(a) for the definition of “judge”, substitute ““judge” means an appropriate judge in accordance with any relevant Practice Direction;”;
(b) in the definition of “Practice Direction” after “the CPR” insert “and includes any practice direction on insolvency proceedings”;
(c) omit the definition of “registrar”.
Propose a change4 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 1.45 (electronic delivery of documents), after paragraph (6) insert—
(7) Electronic delivery does not include delivery by fax.
.
Propose a change5 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 1.46—
(a) for the heading, substitute “Electronic delivery of documents to or by the court”; and
(b) after paragraph (2), insert—
(3) Where these Rules require more than one copy of a document to be delivered to the court, or by the court to a party, and the document is delivered electronically, only one copy is to be delivered.
.
Propose a change6 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 3.20 (appointment taking place out of court business hours: procedure)—
(a) in paragraph (1), omit sub-paragraph (a) and the “or” after it;
(b) in paragraph (3), omit “telephone number and”;
(c) in paragraph (4)—
(i) omit “telephone number and”;
(ii) for “them”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “it”;
(d) in paragraph (5), omit sub-paragraph (a) and the “or” after it;
(e) in paragraph (6), omit “fax transmission report or”;
(f) in paragraph (8), omit “faxed or”;
(g) in paragraph (9)—
(i) in sub-paragraph (a), omit “faxed or”;
(ii) in sub-paragraph (b), omit “fax transmission report or”;
(h) in paragraph (10), for sub-paragraph (a) substitute—
(a) the date and time when, according to the appointer’s hard copy of the email, the notice was sent; and
.
Propose a change7 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 3.21(1)(j)(ii) (documents to be delivered to court) omit “fax transmission report or”.
Propose a change8 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 3.22 (appointment taking place out of court business hours: legal effect)—
(a) in paragraph (2)(a), omit “fax transmission or”;
(b) in paragraph (3), omit “fax transmission report or”.
Propose a change9 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 3.24(1) (notice of appointment after notice of intention to appoint)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (i)(ii), for “appointment; and” substitute “appointment.”;
(b) omit sub-paragraph (j).
Propose a change10 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 3.25(2) (notice of appointment without prior notice of intention to appoint: contents of notice)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (j)(ii), for “administrator; and” substitute “administrator.”;
(b) omit sub-paragraph (k).
Propose a change11 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 8.24(2)(c) (report of the creditors' consideration of a proposal), for “main, territorial or non-EU proceedings” substitute “COMI proceedings, establishment proceedings or proceedings to which the EU Regulation as it has effect in the law of the United Kingdom does not apply”.
Propose a change12 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 9.4 (delivery of application), omit paragraph (4).
Propose a change13 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 10.11(1)(a) and (b) (court in which petition is to be presented), for “£50,000” substitute “£500,000”.
Propose a change14 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 10.36 (procedure for making a bankruptcy application and communication with the adjudicator), omit paragraph (5).
Propose a change15 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 10.87 (vacation of office on completion of bankruptcy (sections 298(8) and 331)), for paragraph (3)(f) substitute—
(f) that the trustee will vacate office under section 298(8) when, after the end of the prescribed period, the trustee—
(i) files with the court a notice that the trustee has given notice to the creditors under section 331, where the bankruptcy is based on a creditor’s petition; or
(ii) delivers to the official receiver a notice that the trustee has given notice to the creditors under section 331, where the bankruptcy is based on a debtor’s application; and
.
Propose a change16 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 12.2 (performance of functions by the court)—
(a) in paragraph (1), for “judge, District Judge or a registrar.” substitute “judge.”;
(b) in paragraph (2), for “The registrar or District Judge” substitute “A judge”.
Propose a change17 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 12.30(7) (general power of transfer)—
(a) in the opening words for “by—” substitute “by a judge.”; and
(b) omit sub-paragraphs (a) and (b).
Propose a change18 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 12.34(5) (consequential transfer of other proceedings), for “registrar”, in both places it occurs, substitute “judge”.
Propose a change19 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 12.37 (application for a block transfer order)—
(a) in paragraph (1), for “the registrar or District Judge” substitute “a judge”;
(b) in paragraph (7)(c), for “registrar or District Judge” substitute “judge”.
Propose a change20 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 12.38 (action following application for a block transfer order)—
(a) in paragraph (1), for “The registrar or District Judge”, in the first place where it occurs, substitute “A judge” and in the second “the judge”;
(b) in paragraph (2), in the opening words for “the registrar or District Judge” substitute “a judge”;
(c) in paragraph (2)(d), for “the registrar or District Judge or a judge of the Chancery Division.” substitute “a judge.”.
Propose a change21 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 12.40(3) (office copies of documents), for “registrar or District Judge” substitute “judge”.
Propose a change22 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 13.2(2) (persons entitled to act on official receiver's behalf), for “the registrar or District Judge.” substitute “a judge.”.
Propose a change23 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 14.1(6), for “(4)” substitute “(5)”.
Propose a change24 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 18.3(1), omit sub-paragraph (b).
Propose a change25 Amendments to the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016
In rule 18.30(2) (remuneration: exceeding the fee estimate), for sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), substitute—
(a) where the court fixed the basis, to the court;
(b) where there is a committee (unless the court fixed the basis), to the committee;
(c) in other cases where the creditors or a class of creditors fixed the basis, to the creditors or that class of creditors;
.
Propose a change