CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ACT 1999 (NO. 63 OF 1999) - SECT 206 Contact orders
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ACT 1999 (NO. 63 OF 1999) - SECT 206
Contact orders(1) This section applies to a child or young person in relation to whom—
(a) another order under this Chapter is being sought or is in force; or
(b) a proceeding is under way under this Chapter which may lead to the making of an order which has the effect of separating the child or young person from a significant person in his or her life.
(2) The court may, on its own initiative, or on application by a person, make an order allowing contact between a child or young person to whom this section applies and someone else.
(3) If a person applies for a contact order in relation to a child or young person—
(a) if the person has parental responsibility for the child or young person or is his or her sibling—there is a rebuttable presumption that it is in the best interests of the child or young person to have contact with the person; or
(b) in any other case—the person has the burden of proving that contact between him or her and the child or young person is in the best interests of the child or young person.
(4) A sibling of a child or young person in relation to whom a contact order is sought does not need the leave of the court to be joined as a party to the proceeding on the application.
(5) An order stating that there be no contact between a child or young person and someone else is a specific issues order, not a contact order.