What is a Special Guardianship Order?

A Special Guardianship Order gives a Special Guardian the ability to make decisions regarding the day to day care of a child or young person, including making decisions about aspects of their upbringing, such as their health and education. This Special Guardian could be a relative such as an aunt, uncle, grandparent or godparent, or a close family friend.

In situations where a child cannot live with their birth parents, but adoption is also not suitable, a Special Guardianship Order can be made.

Under a Special Guardianship Order the birth parents retain their legal parental responsibility but they are limited in their ability to exercise this. As a result, unlike adoption where once the child is adopted the legal relationship between birth parents and child ends, a Special Guardianship Order allows the relationship between child and birth parents to stay intact.  The Special Guardian however has enhanced parental responsibility for the child and can make most decisions without the consent of the parents with parental responsibility.

Why use Rotheras for Special Guardianship Orders?

We can advise on your suitability as a Special Guardian.

We can assist with applications for Special Guardianship Orders, includingcollating the relevant information and preparing the application.

We are on the Law Society Children Law Accreditation Scheme (also known as the Children Panel).

We can advise on situations where conflict has arisen between the birth parents and Special Guardian.

We can advise special guardians in situations where they are looking to adopt the child under their guardianship, change their surname or relocate them for more than three months.

We can help you with:

• Special Guardianship Orders
• Child Arrangement Orders

“We handle clients with sensitivity and understanding throughout”

Ann-Marie Bowman
Partner