PART 25EXPERTS AND ASSESSORS

Interpretation25.2.

(1)

A reference to an “expert” in this Part—

(a)

is a reference to a person who has been instructed to give or prepare expert evidence for the purpose of family proceedings; and

(b)

does not include—

(i)

a person who is within a prescribed description for the purposes of section 94(1) of the 2002 Act (persons who may prepare a report for any person about the suitability of a child for adoption or of a person to adopt a child or about the adoption, or placement for adoption, of a child); or

(ii)

an officer of the Service or a Welsh family proceedings officer when acting in that capacity.

(Regulation 3 of the Restriction on the Preparation of Adoption Reports Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1711) sets out which persons are within a prescribed description for the purposes of section 94(1) of the 2002 Act.)

(2)

“Single joint expert” means an expert instructed to prepare a report for the court on behalf of two or more of the parties (including the applicant) to the proceedings.