Child and Family law
The Scottish Government consulted on the redesign of Scotland’s children’s hearings system to build on its strengths so that it can deliver the best possible experience to the children and families in need of its support. It focusses on areas which may require changes to the law.
The Scottish Government published a policy position paper on placing children and young people into Scottish residential care when a High Court in England or Wales has granted a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) order.
- Read the policy position paper on the Scottish Government's website.
- Read our response (January 2022)
The Scottish Government issued a consultation on the regulation of child contact centre services.
- View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website.
- Read the our response (July 2021).
The Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission issued a joint consultation on building families through surrogacy: a new law.
- Read the Law Commission consultation here
- View the Law Society of Scotland's response here (October 2019)
The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Domestic Law in Scotland
- View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
- The Law Society of Scotland's response (August 2019)
The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on the Clinical Pathway for Children and Young People who have disclosed sexual abuse
- View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
- The Law Society of Scotland's response (July 2019)
The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on improving Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and interventions for victims of domestic abuse.
- View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
- The Law Society of Scotland's response (April 2019)
PE01701 calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to amend the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007, or introduce separate legislation, to allow for the adoption of individuals who are over the age of 18, in order to respect the right to a family life enshrined in the Human Rights Act 1998.
- View the petition on the Scottish Parliament website
- The Law Society of Scotland's response (October 2018)
The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on reforming part 1 of the 1995 Act which covers parental responsibilities and rights and on creating a Family Justice Modernisation Strategy.
- View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
- The Law Society of Scotland's response (September 2018)
The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on the the Action Plan for taking forward the rights of the child over the coming three year period, 2018-2021.
- View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
- The Law Society of Scotland's response (September 2018)
The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on potential changes to family law in the context of the UK's exit from the EU.
- View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
- The Law Society of Scotland's response (August 2018)
The Scottish Civil Justice Council has issued a public consultation on the case management of family and civil partnership actions in the sheriff court.
- View the consultation on the Scottish Civil Justice Council website
- The Law Society of Scotland's response (August 2018)
The Department for Work and Pensions has issued a consultation to inform the government’s new child maintenance compliance and arrears strategy, which is due to be published in 2018.
- View the consultation on the GOV.UK website
- The Law Society of Scotland's response (February 2018)