The Family Division was created in 1971 when Admiralty and contentious probate cases were removed from its predecessor, the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division.
The current president of the Family Division is Sir Andrew McFarlane.
Sir James Munby retired as president on 27 July 2018.
On someone dying intestate (i.e. without having made a valid will), the property of the deceased formerly legally vested in the president of the Family Division until the Probate Registry made a grant of grant of administration to the deceased's personal representatives.
The property now vests in the Public Trustee until a grant is made.