Amendment of Ordinary Cause Rules3.

(1)

The Ordinary Cause Rules in the first Schedule to the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 19073 are amended in accordance with the following subparagraphs.

(2)

In rule 33.3(1) (averments where section 11 order sought), after subparagraph (b) insert—

“(c)

where the party seeks an order such as is mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (2) of that section, an averment that no permanence order (as defined in section 80(2) of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007) is in force in respect of the child.”.

(3)

In rule 33A.3(1) (averments where section 11 order sought), after subparagraph (b) insert—

“(c)

where the party seeks an order such as is mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (2) of that section, an averment that no permanence order (as defined in section 80(2) of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007) is in force in respect of the child.”.

(4)

After rule 33.65 (application after decree) insert—

“Application for leave33.65A.

(1)

Where leave of the court is required under section 11(3)(aa)4 of the Act of 1995 for the making of an application for a contact order under that section, the applicant must lodge along with the initial writ a written application in the form of a letter addressed to the sheriff clerk stating—

(a)

the grounds on which leave is sought;

(b)

whether or not the applicant has applied for legal aid.

(2)

Where the applicant has applied for legal aid he must also lodge along with the initial writ written confirmation from the Scottish Legal Aid Board that it has determined, under regulation 7(2)(b) of the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 20025, that notification of the application should be dispensed with or postponed pending the making by the sheriff of an order for intimation under paragraph (4)(b).

(3)

Subject to paragraph (4)(b), an application under paragraph (1) shall not be served or intimated to any party.

(4)

The sheriff shall consider an application under paragraph (1) without hearing the applicant and may—

(a)

refuse the application and pronounce an interlocutor accordingly; or

(b)

if he is minded to grant the application order the applicant—

(i)

to intimate the application to such persons as the sheriff considers appropriate; and

(ii)

to lodge a certificate of intimation in, as near as may be, Form G8.

(5)

If any person who receives intimation of an application under paragraph (4)(b) wishes to be heard he shall notify the sheriff clerk in writing within 14 days of receipt of intimation of the application.

(6)

On receipt of any notification under paragraph (5) the sheriff clerk shall fix a hearing and intimate the date of the hearing to the parties.

(7)

Where an application under paragraph (1) is granted, a copy of the sheriff’s interlocutor must be served on the defender along with the warrant of citation.”.

(5)

After rule 33A.57 (application after decree) insert—

“Application for leave33A.

(1)

Where leave of the court is required under section 11(3)(aa) of the Act of 1995 for the making of an application for a contact order under that section, the applicant must lodge along with the initial writ a written application in the form of a letter addressed to the sheriff clerk stating—

(a)

the grounds of which leave is sought; and

(b)

whether or not the applicant has applied for legal aid.

(2)

Where the applicant has applied for legal aid he must also lodge along with the initial writ written confirmation from the Scottish Legal Aid Board that it has determined, under regulation 7(2)(b) of the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2002, that notification of the application for legal aid should be dispensed with or postponed pending the making by the sheriff of an order for intimation under paragraph (4)(b).

(3)

Subject to paragraph (4)(b) an application under paragraph (1) shall not be served or intimated to any party.

(4)

The sheriff shall consider an application under paragraph (1) without hearing the applicant and may—

(a)

refuse the application and pronounce an interlocutor accordingly; or

(b)

if he is minded to grant the application order the applicant—

(i)

to intimate the application to such persons as the sheriff considers appropriate; and

(ii)

to lodge a certificate of intimation in, as near as may be, Form G8.

(5)

If any person who receives intimation of an application under paragraph (4)(b) wishes to be heard he shall notify the sheriff clerk in writing within 14 days of receipt of intimation of the application.

(6)

On receipt of any notification under paragraph (5) the sheriff clerk shall fix a hearing and intimate the date of the hearing to the parties.

(7)

Where an application under paragraph (1) is granted, a copy of the sheriff’s interlocutor must be served on the defender along with the warrant of citation.”.