Family Act Article 18

A presiding judge or a judge may, upon motion by the parties or on its own initiative, order a family matter investigation officer to investigate facts with regard to a particular matter.The family matter investigation officer who has conducted the investigation in accordance with the preceding paragraph shall submit a report to the court.Unless considered unnecessary, prior to ordering an investigation in accordance with Paragraph 1 of this Article, the presiding judge or the judge shall give the parties and the interested parties an opportunity to make a pleading through an oral argument or a statement.Prior to making a ruling, the presiding judge or the judge, taking account of matters covered by the report submitted in accordance with Paragraph 2 of this Article, shall give the parties and the interested parties an opportunity to be heard or to present their arguments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the requirement for a hearing does not apply to situations where the privacy of the related persons or an inappropriate subject-matter is involved.When considered it necessary, the presiding judge or the judge may order the family matter investigation officer to appear before the court to testify, on the date designated in the summons.