When an application is made to court for a contact 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. This report is not a matter of course and can only be done if the court orders.
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 Child and Family Reporter may also speak to the child's school, doctor, social worker (if there is one involved) or relatives. It is possible that oral or short reports will be carried out to minimise time delay.
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 firstly about whether there should be contact, and then a recommendation about the amount of contact. 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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