Act of Sederunt (Child Care and Maintenance Rules) 1997

SAFEGUARDERS S

Application S

3.6  Rules 3.7 to 3.10 apply, as regards a safeguarder, to all applications and proceedings to which this Chapter applies except for proceedings under section 57 of the Act for a child protection order.

Appointment of safeguarder S

3.7—(1) The sheriff–

(a) shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the lodging of an application or the commencing of any proceedings, consider whether it is necessary to appoint a safeguarder in the application or proceedings; and

(b) may at that stage, or at any later stage of the application or proceedings, appoint a safeguarder.

(2) Where a safeguarder has been appointed in proceedings before the children’s hearing or the sheriff in respect of related proceedings, the appointee shall, unless the sheriff on his own motion or on cause shown by a party directs otherwise, be the same person appointed as safeguarder by the children’s hearing or the sheriff.

Rights, powers and duties of safeguarder on appointment S

3.8  A safeguarder appointed in an application shall–

(a) have the powers and duties at common law of a curatorad litem in respect of the child;

(b) be entitled to receive from the Principal Reporter copies of the application, all of the productions in the proceedings and any papers which were before the children’s hearing;

(c) subject to rule 3.5(1)(a), determine whether the child wishes to express his views in relation to the application and, if so, where the child so wishes transmit his views to the sheriff;

(d) make such enquiries so far as relevant to the application as he considers appropriate; and

(e) without delay, and in any event before the hearing on the application, intimate in writing to the sheriff clerk whether or not he intends to become a party to the proceedings.

Provision where safeguarder intimates his intention to become a party to the proceedings S

3.9—(1) A safeguarder may appear personally in the proceedings or instruct an advocate or solicitor to appear on his behalf.

(2) Where an advocate or a solicitor is appointed to act as a safeguarder, he shall not act also as advocate or solicitor for the child in the proceedings.

Provision where safeguarder intimates his intention not to become a party to the proceedings S

3.10—(1) Where a safeguarder intimates that he does not intend to become a party to the proceedings, he shall at the same time report in writing to the sheriff on the extent of his enquiries and his conclusion as to the interests of the child in the proceedings.

(2) The sheriff clerk shall intimate to a safeguarder who has not become a party to the proceedings all interlocutors subsequent to his appointment.

(3) A safeguarder who has intimated his intention not to become a party to the proceedings may subsequently seek leave so to become.