A two-year pilot scheme to improve ancillary relief procedures in matrimonial proceedings will be introduced on December 29.

It aims to encourage the parties to reach settlement and to reduce unnecessary costs, delay and personal distress for them, the Judiciary said.

All claims for ancillary relief, except those for nominal maintenance, contained in petitions or joint applications filed on or after that day are subject to the pilot scheme.

Under the scheme, a new set of ancillary relief procedures, which is divided into three phases, will be used. Each will conclude with a "milestone" court hearing, and the parties are required to provide a statement of costs incurred to date before each milestone hearing.

The Judiciary hoped that with the parties being aware of the legal costs incurred at every stage of the proceedings, exhaustive and unnecessary disclosure of financial information will be avoided.

A pamphlet on the scheme is now available at court registries and the Judiciary's website.