# The Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) Rules 1991, Article 13: Welfare officer


(1) The welfare officer shall, unless excused by the court or the justices' clerk, attend a hearing if the justices' clerk gives him notice that his report will be given or considered at that hearing; and any party may question the welfare officer about his report at such a hearing.
(2) A welfare officer shall file a copy of any written report at or by such time as the justices' clerk or the court directs or, in the absence of a direction, at least 5 days before a hearing of which he is given notice under paragraph (1); and the justices' clerk shall, as soon as practicable, serve a copy of the report on the parties and any guardian ad litem.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1991/1395/article/13 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/family-proceedings-courts-children-act-1989-rules-1991/article-13
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.