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Judicial Protocol extended to include Northern Ireland

 

Feb 6, 2023

The Judicial Protocol Regulating Direct Judicial Communications Between Scotland, and England and Wales, in Children’s Cases was first published in July 2018, following on from a series of meetings that took place between members of the Scottish and English judiciaries over 2017- 2018.


Following a review of the working of that Protocol and discussions with the Northern Ireland judiciary, it has been agreed that the Protocol be extended to include Northern Ireland and a revised version of the Protocol can be found below.

The 2018 Protocol was supported by supplementary information in the form of a Handbook on family law relating to children in Scotland and in England & Wales, which can also be found below. A supplementary Handbook to include Northern Ireland family law will be added at a later date. In the meantime, Northern Ireland will operate in shadow mode where arrangements apply. 

Judicial Protocol Regulating Direct Judicial Communications Between Scotland, and England and Wales, in Children’s Cases