CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ACT 2004 - SECT 148

CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ACT 2004 - SECT 148

148 .         Legal representation of child

        [(1)         deleted]

        (2)         If, in protection proceedings, it appears to the Court that the child ought to have separate legal representation, the Court may order that the child be separately represented by a legal practitioner.

        (3)         The Court may make an order under subsection (2) —

            (a)         on its own initiative; or

            (b)         on the application of —

                  (i)         the child; or

                  (ii)         an organisation concerned with the wellbeing of children; or

                  (iii)         any other person.

        (4)         A legal practitioner who represents a child in protection proceedings must act on the instructions of the child if the child —

            (a)         has sufficient maturity and understanding to give instructions; and

            (b)         wishes to give instructions,

                and in any other case must act in the best interests of the child.

        (5)         Any question as to whether a child has sufficient maturity and understanding to give instructions is to be determined by the Court.

        [Section 148 amended: No. 21 of 2008 s. 642; No. 9 of 2022 s. 334.]