The Magistrates' Courts (Children and Young Persons) Rules 1988
These Rules consolidate with amendments the Rules listed in Schedule 1. The amendments are mainly to take account of section 32A(4A) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (which, in care proceedings where there is a conflict of interest between parent and child, makes the parent a party to the proceedings) and section 32C of that Act (which enables a court to make a grandparent a party to care proceedings), both inserted by section 3 of the Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Act 1986. Rule 15 requires notice (Form 9 in Schedule 2) to be sent to a parent or guardian who is made a party to care proceedings. Rule 14 is amended to require a grandparent to be given notice of care proceedings, a notice of application (Form 10) is prescribed for a grandparent who wishes to be made a party and Rule 17 specifies the circumstances in which the court may grant such an application. Rules 18 to 28 contain revised procedural provision for care and related proceedings, principally to take account of possible participation as parties by parents and grandparents and to permit greater participation by non-parties; Rules 30 and 33 make corresponding provision for participation by non-parties in access proceedings and proceedings relating to parental rights resolutions respectively. The Rules provide for greater disclosure of written reports, where practicable before the hearing (Rules 10(2), 25(1) and (2), 26(2) and 34(1) and (2)). There are other minor procedural and drafting amendments.