Confidentiality of documents23

1

Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) no document, other than a record of an order, held by the court and relating to relevant proceedings shall be disclosed, other than to—

a

a party,

b

the legal representative of a party,

c

the guardian ad litem,

d

the Legal Aid Department, or

e

a welfare officer

without the leave of the court.

2

Where the Department of Health and Social Services requires a person mentioned in regulation 2(2) or (3) of the Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 19929 to furnish information or evidence for a purpose mentioned in regulation 3(1) of those Regulations, nothing in paragraph (1) shall prevent that person from furnishing the information or evidence sought or to require him to seek the leave of the court before doing so.

3

Nothing in paragraph (1) shall prevent the notification by the court of a direction under Article 56(1) to the authority concerned.