{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/act-of-sederunt-child-care-and-maintenance-rules-1997/rule-2.53",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/act-of-sederunt-child-care-and-maintenance-rules-1997/rule-2.53.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1997/291",
  "legislation_title": "Act of Sederunt (Child Care and Maintenance Rules) 1997",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/act-of-sederunt-child-care-and-maintenance-rules-1997",
  "path": "rule/2.53",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "2.53",
  "heading": "Procedure where child wishes to express a view",
  "text": "(1) Where a child to whom section 54(11) or 54A(11) of the 2008 Act applies indicates his or her wish to express a view, the sheriff, without prejudice to rule 2.51(2)(h)—\n(a) may order such procedural steps to be taken as the sheriff considers appropriate to ascertain the views of that child; and\n(b) must not make an order under this Part unless an opportunity has been given for the views of that child to be obtained or heard.\n(2) Where the views of a child, whether obtained under this rule or under rule 2.51(2)(h) have been recorded in writing, the sheriff may direct that such a written record is to—\n(a) be sealed in an envelope marked “Views of the child – confidential”;\n(b) be available to a sheriff only;\n(c) not be opened by any person other than a sheriff; and\n(d) not form a borrowable part of the process.",
  "extent": "S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Ch. 2 Pt. 6 substituted (6.4.2010) by Act of Sederunt (Child Care and Maintenance Rules) Amendment (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008) 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/137), paras. 1(1), 2(2) (with para. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in rule 2.53(1) inserted (24.5.2019) by Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Child Care and Maintenance Rules 1997 Amendment) (Parental Orders) 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/147), paras. 1(2), 3(6)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/291/rule/2.53",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T12:25:57.022825+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}