Family Law

The Children (Scotland) Act 2020

October 31st 2023

Virtual Seminar

What changes will the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 make for children and young people?

October 31st 2023

2 - 5pm

Speakers: Tom Quail

Book Now

£180+VAT

3hrs CPD

The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 received royal assent in August 2020. The changes have not yet been brought into force as the Government, Local Authority Courts and Children's Hearings prepare for the changes before they have to start delivering them.

The new Act brings the law into line with children's rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The seminar will consider the main changes for children and young people being:-

Children and young people having more opportunity to give their views to court;

The courts having to explain decisions to children;

Children having Support Advocacy Workers in family court actions;

Measures to keep children safe in contact centres;

Registration of Child Welfare Reporters and Curators ad litem and rules of how they should carry out their duties;

The court having to investigate the reason contact arrangements are not working; and

Rules to avoid legal proceedings taking too long

The seminar will look at the potential impact, the changes the new Act will bring and the advice which requires to be given by family law/child law practitioners.

The event begins at 2pm. Delegate registration is open from 1:30pm.

Tom Quail is Head of the Family Law Group at Wright Johnston and Mackenzie and is a Family Law Expert who has been involved in Family Law at a high level for over 20 years. Tom is accredited as a specialist in family law, a trained Mediator and a Solicitor Advocate.

Tom has spoken at Family Law Conferences over the past 10 years to experienced family lawyers and has had articles published in law journals. Most recently, Tom had an article published this month in the Journal on the Scottish Law Commission is "Discussion paper on Cohabitation" and also this month had an article published on the online Journal for advice to separating couples in the face of COVID-19 which was co-written with a Clinical Psychologist.