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A stage in the child-focused courts process (currently a pilot in some court areas) where a judge or legal adviser reviews an application without either party present, deciding what should happen next, such as directing a child impact report or setting the route the case will take. There are typically two gatekeeping stages before a decision hearing.
In Plain English
A behind-the-scenes review by the judge, done without you or the other parent in the room, where they decide what needs to happen next in your case.
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