Act of Sederunt (Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007) 2009

Protection of identity of petitioner

10.—(1) When any person who proposes to apply under rule 8 wishes to prevent his identity being disclosed to any person whose consent to the order is required, he may before presenting the petition apply by letter to the sheriff clerk for a serial number to be assigned to him for all purposes connected with the petition.

(2) On receipt of an application under paragraph (1), the sheriff clerk must—

(a) assign a serial number to the applicant; and

(b) enter a note of the number opposite the name of the applicant in a register of serial numbers.

(3) The contents of the register of serial numbers and the names of the persons to whom each number relates shall be treated as confidential by the sheriff clerk and are to not be disclosed to any person other than the sheriff.

(4) Where a serial number has been assigned to an applicant under paragraph (2) any form of consent to an adoption order or order under section 59 of the 2007 Act—

(a) must refer to the applicant by means of the serial number assigned to him;

(b) must not contain the name and designation of the applicant; and

(c) must specify the year in which and the court by which the serial number was assigned.