S.L. 16.20 Art. 16Appointment of Children’s Advocate.  Cap. 12.

(1) When a party files a mediation letter and following the appointment of a mediator, there are minor children involved, the Court may, upon the request of any party or the mediator and after considering the particular circumstances and the best interests of the child, appoint a Children’s Advocate to assist the minor throughout all proceedings.

(2) The merits and means test provided for in article 912 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure, shall not apply to the appointment of a Children’s Advocate as provided in sub-regulation (1).

(3) The Children’s Advocate shall hold sessions scheduled by him, both with the minor alone and, where necessary, with the assisted parties, in order to draw up his submissions to the Court after hearing, or giving an opportunity to the parties and the children to be heard and taking into account the circumstances of the family. The submissions of the Children’s Advocate shall always be made in the best interests of the child.

(4) If the Children’s Advocate considers that it is in the best interests of the child to appoint a support person as a court expert to assess the child, the parents, the parties or any other person whose conduct affects the best interests of the child, he shall if they consider that there are sufficient grounds for doing so, make a request to this effect to the Court to make such provisions as it deems fit after hearing the persons concerned.