Family law

Before any meeting takes place between the judge and a child in a family case, the following should be considered:

(i) the format, structure, content and purpose of the meeting;

(ii) the role of the judge;

(iii) the participation and presence of others in or at the meeting;

(iv) what is to be passed on to anyone not present or represented at the meeting; (v) how matters asserted by a child to the judge are to be tested;

(vi) whether anything that is not passed on to the parties can be taken into account by the judge; and

(vii) what explanation is to be given to the child before and after the meeting.