Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the instrument)
This Act of Sederunt amends the 1997 rules of the Sheriff Court relating to child care and maintenance (“the principal rules”).
Rule 4 amends rule 2.25 of the principal rules, so that in no circumstances is a reporting officer appointed in a petition for adoption where there is already an order freeing the child for adoption.
Rule 5 makes one minor amendment to correct a typographical error.
Rule 6 inserts a new Part IVA into Chapter 2 (Adoption of Children) of the principal rules. Part IVA makes provisions in relation to the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 (“the 1999 Act”).
The 1999 Act gives effect to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption concluded on 29th May 1993 (“the Convention”), in part by amending the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 (“the 1978 Act”).
The rules in Part IVA provide as follows:–
(i)rule 2.36A provides a number of definitions for use in that Part;
(ii)rule 2.36B provides that an application under section 17 of the 1978 Act shall be made under that Part;
(iii)rule 2.36C makes provision in respect both of the type and content of documents that must be lodged with a petition for a Convention adoption, and introduces the form of petition for such an adoption;
(iv)rule 2.36D applies some of the rules in Part IV(Adoption Orders) of the principal rules to an application for a Convention adoption;
(v)rule 2.36E provides that a reporting officer shall not be appointed in a petition for a Convention adoption;
(vi)rule 2.36F makes provision for those bodies or persons who should receive notice of any hearing that is fixed under that Part; and
(vii)rule 2.36G provides for notice of the making or revocation of an adoption under that Part to be intimated to the Registrar General, and to the Scottish central authority for the purposes of the Convention.
Rule 7 inserts the new Form 11A in the Schedule into the Schedule of forms in the principal rules.