The Scottish Parliament's Justice 1 Committee approved the change to theFamily Law Bill on 9 November and it is set to become law atChristmas.
Under the amendment, the sheriff will have to consider evidence ofdomestic violence and its impact on the child and their carer whenmaking contact arrangements between separating parents and theirchildren.
At present, the law says the sheriff must consider the best interests ofthe child but does not specify examining domestic violence.
Campaigners in England are lobbying for similar amendments to theChildren and Adoption Bill.
John Watson, parliamentary and policy officer at Barnardo's Scotland'said: "It is saying where there is domestic abuse they should look morecarefully at the case and not assume that contact is in the child's bestinterests."
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