(1)

A party to an Application for Final Orders (Form 1) may apply for an order that a family report be prepared at or after the issue of a trial notice.

(2) The court may take the following matters into consideration when deciding whether to order a family report:
(a) whether the case involves:

(i)

an intractable or complex parenting case;

(ii)

if a child is mature enough for the child's wishes to be significant in determining a case — a dispute about the child's wishes;

(iii)

a dispute about the existence or quality of the relationship between a parent, or other significant person, and a child;

(iv)

allegations that a child is at risk of abuse; or

(v)

family violence;

(b)

whether there is any other relevant independent expert evidence available.

(3)

An application for a family report (whether made orally or in writing), and any order made, must identify the issues to be addressed by the report.

(4)

When ordering a family report, the court may order a party or a child to attend for the purposes of preparing the report.

(5) If a family report is prepared in accordance with an order made under this rule, the court may:

(a)

give copies of the report to each party, or the party's lawyer, and to a child representative;

(b)

receive the report in evidence;

(c)

permit oral examination of the person making the report; and

(d)

order that the report not be released to a person or that access to the report be restricted.