This is the third edition of the guide, first published in 2012. It has been praised by party litigants and by solicitors for its clear explanation of legal and court processes.

This edition of the guide includes a plain English flow diagram to help parties understand the new case management rules for Sheriff Court family cases that came into force in September 2023, designed to encourage sheriffs to ‘take ownership’ of a case while it is in court.

Shared Parenting Scotland has already publicised the significant increase in the number of parents compelled to represent themselves in court because of the falling number of solicitors accepting clients on legal aid.

Shared Parenting Scotland chief executive, Kevin Kane, said: “We always encourage those who contact us to avoid going to court if possible. The adversarial system tends to polarise attitudes between parents and can even generate entirely new grievances. It is slow and damaging for children to feel they are being fought over by the very people they need to work together for them.

“However, for those who feel they have no choice, this guide takes them step by step through the labyrinth of procedures and protocols, the forms that have to be filled and the obscure language that might trip up the increasing number of parents representing themselves in court.”