When an application is made to court for a residence order, and the parents are not able to reach agreement, the court will usually ask a Children and Family Reporter from CAFCASS to make a report to the court.
The Children and Family Reporter will see both parents - sometimes at home, but sometimes at their office, and will also see and talk to the child, normally on their own if they are considered competent enough. The purpose of this is to find out what the child's wishes and feelings are. Depending on the circumstances, the Court and Family Reporter may also speak to the child's school, doctor, social worker (if there is one involved) or relatives.
The purpose is to advise the court on what is in the best interests of the child. The Reporter will consider all the information and make a recommendation about which parent the child should live with. The courts generally place great weight on the CAFCASS report and will only depart from the recommendations if there are good reasons for doing so.
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