Rule 4.21 Hearing

Northern Ireland

(1)

The court may give directions as to the order of speeches and evidence at a hearing or directions appointment, in the course of proceedings to which this Part applies.

(2)

Subject to directions under paragraph (1), at a hearing of, or directions appointment in, proceedings to which this Part applies, the parties and the guardian ad litem shall adduce their evidence in the following order—

(a)

the applicant,

(b)

any party with parental responsibility for the child,

(c)

other respondents,

(d)

the guardian ad litem,

(e)

the child, if he is a party to the proceedings and there is no guardian ad litem.

(3)

After the final hearing of proceedings to which this Part applies, the court shall deliver its judgment as soon as is practicable.

(4)

When making an order or when refusing an application, the court shall either—

(a)

issue a written judgment;

(b)

cause the judgment to be recorded by mechanical or electronic means; or

(c)

record in Form C19 any finding of fact which it made and the reasons for its decision.

(5)

An order made in proceedings to which this Part applies shall be recorded either in the appropriate form in Appendix 1 to these rules or, where there is no such form, in writing.

(6)

A copy of an order made in accordance with paragraph (5) shall, as soon as practicable after it has been made, be served by the proper officer or chief clerk on the parties to the proceedings in which it was made and on any person with whom the child is living.