PRACTICE DIRECTION 12M – FAMILY ASSISTANCE ORDERS: CONSULTATION

PRACTICE DIRECTION 12M – FAMILY ASSISTANCE ORDERS: CONSULTATION

1.1

This Practice Direction applies to any family proceedings in the High Court or the family court in which the court is considering whether to make a family assistance order under section 16 of the Children Act 1989, as amended (‘the 1989 Act’). It has effect from 1st October 2007.

1.2

Before making a family assistance order the court must have obtained the opinion of the appropriate officer about whether it would be in the best interests of the child in question for a family assistance order to be made and, if so, how the family assistance order could operate and for what period.

1.3

The appropriate officer will be an officer of the Service, a Welsh family proceedings officer or an officer of a local authority, depending on the category of officer the court proposes to require to be made available under the family assistance order.

1.4

The opinion of the appropriate officer may be given orally or in writing (for example, it may form part of a report under section 7 of the 1989 Act).

1.5

Before making a family assistance order the court must give any person whom it proposes be named in the order an opportunity to comment upon any opinion given by the appropriate officer.

1.6

Issued by the President of the Family Division, as the nominee of the Lord Chief Justice, with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor.

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