Subject to paragraph (2) the sheriff shall, after the lodging of a petition under rule 2.21, appoint a curatorad litem and reporting officer and the same person may be appointed as curatorad litem and reporting officer in the same petition, if the sheriff considers that doing so is appropriate in the circumstances.

Where an order freeing the child for adoption has been made, the sheriff shall not appoint a reporting officer save for the purpose specified in rule 2.26(1)(a).

The sheriff may appoint a person who is not a member of a panel established under regulations made by virtue of section 101 of the 1995 Act to be curatorad litem or a reporting officer.

The sheriff may, on cause shown, appoint a reporting officer prior to the lodging of such a petition.

An application for an appointment under paragraph (4) shall be made by letter addressed to the sheriff clerk specifying the reasons for the appointment, and shall not require to be intimated to any other person.