Judicial Protocol Regulating Direct Judicial Communications between Scotland, England & Wales, and Northern Ireland in Children’s Cases

Judicial Protocol Regulating Direct Judicial Communications between Scotland, England & Wales, and Northern Ireland in Children’s Cases

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. A supplementary Handbook on family law relating to children in Northern Ireland was added in July 2023, both handbooks can be found below.

Please find the handbook and protocol linked below.