Citation and commencement, etc.

1.-(1) This Act of Sederunt may be cited as the Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Child Care and Maintenance Rules 1997 Amendment) (Parental Orders) 2019.

(2) It comes into force on 24th May 2019.

(3) A certified copy is to be inserted in the Books of Sederunt.

Amendment of the Rules of the Court of Session 1994

2.-(1) The Rules of the Court of Session 1994(3) are amended in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) In rule 97.1 (application and interpretation)(4)-

(a)in paragraph (1), after "section 54", insert "or 54A(5)";

(b)in paragraph (2), in the definition of "parental order", after "section 54", insert "or 54A".

(3) In rule 97.7(4) (protection of identity of petitioners), after "section 54(6)", insert "or 54A(5)".

(4) In rule 97.9 (duties of a reporting officer and curator ad litem)(6)-

(a)in paragraph (1)-

(i)in sub-paragraph (c), after "section 54(6)", insert "or 54A(5)";

(ii)in sub-paragraph (d), for "(8) of section 54", substitute "(8A) of section 54 or subsections (2) to (8) of section 54A";

(b)in paragraph (2)(d), after "section 54(8)", insert "or 54A(7)";

(c)in paragraph (5)(b), after "section 54(6)", insert "or 54A(5)".

(5) In rule 97.10(1) (agreement), after "section 54(6)", insert "or 54A(5)".

(6) In rule 97.11(1) (procedure where child wishes to express a view), after "section 54(11)", insert "or 54A(11)".

(7) In the Appendix (forms)-

(a)in Form 97.3 (form of petition for parental order under section 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008)-

(i)in the heading, after "section 54", insert "or 54A";

(ii)in the instance, after "section 54", insert "[or 54A]";

(iii)in the prayer, after "section 54", insert "[or 54A]";

(iv)in the signing docquet, after "Counsel or other person having a right of audience]", on the next line, insert-

"

";

(v)at the end of the form, insert-

"

";

(b)in Form 97.10 (form of agreement to a parental order under section 54(6) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008)-

(i)in the heading, after "section 54(6)", insert "or 54A(5)";

(ii)in the instance, after "section 54", insert "or [54A]";

(iii)at the end of the form, insert-

"

";

(c)in Form 97.12 (form of intimation of hearing of application for a parental order under section 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008)-

(i)in the heading, after "section 54", insert "or 54A";

(ii)in the instance, after "section 54", insert "[or 54A]";

(iii)in paragraph 3, after "the petitioners", insert "[or petitioner]";

(iv)in the signing docquet-

(aa)after "for petitioners", insert "[or petitioner]";

(bb)after "[Deputy Principal Clerk*]", insert "or [Petitioner[s]]".

Amendment of the Act of Sederunt (Child Care and Maintenance Rules) 1997

3.-(1) The Act of Sederunt (Child Care and Maintenance Rules) 1997(7) is amended in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) In rule 2.45 (interpretation)(8), in the definition of "parental order", after "section 54", insert "or 54A(5)".

(3) In rule 2.49(4) (protection of identity of petitioners), after "section 54(6)", insert "or 54A(5)".

(4) In rule 2.51 (duties of reporting officer and curator ad litem)(9)-

(a)in paragraph (1)-

(i)in sub-paragraph (c), after "section 54(6)", insert "or 54A(5)";

(ii)in sub-paragraph (d), for "(8) of section 54", substitute "(8A) of section 54 or subsections (2) to (8) of section 54A";

(b)in paragraph (2)(d), after "section 54(8)", insert "or 54A(7)";

(c)in paragraph (5)(b), after "section 54(6)", insert "or 54A(5)".

(5) In rule 2.52(1) (agreement), after "section 54(6)", insert "or 54A(5)".

(6) In rule 2.53(1) (procedure where child wishes to express a view), after "section 54(11)", insert "or 54A(11)".

(7) In schedule 1 (forms)-

(a)in Form 22 (form of petition for parental order under section 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008)(10)-

(i)in the heading, after "SECTION 54", insert "OR 54A";

(ii)in the instance, after "section 54", insert "[or 54A]";

(iii)in crave 4, after "section 54", insert "[or 54A]";

(iv)at the end of the form, insert-

"

";

(b)in Form 23 (form of agreement to a parental order under section 54(6) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008)-

(i)in the heading, after "SECTION 54(6)", insert "OR 54A(5)";

(ii)at the end of the form, insert-

"

";

(c)in Form 24 (form of intimation of diet of the hearing of application for a parental order under section 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008)-

(i)in the heading, after "SECTION 54", insert "OR 54A";

(ii)after "section 54", insert "or 54A";

(iii)after "the petitioners", insert "[or petitioner]";

(iv)at the end of the form, insert-

"

".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Act of Sederunt)

This Act of Sederunt amends the Rules of the Court of Session 1994 ("the RCS") and the Act of Sederunt (Child Care and Maintenance Rules) 1997 ("the CCMR") in consequence of the enactment of section 54A of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (Remedial) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1413).

Section 54A extends to single applicants the right to apply for parental orders that was previously available only to couples.

Paragraph 2(2) to (6) inserts into Chapter 97 of the RCS references to the relevant provisions of section 54A. Paragraph 2(7) makes consequential amendments to Forms 97.3, 97.10 and 97.12.

Paragraph 3 makes similar amendments to the CCMR.