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If social services decide to start care proceedings in the court, there will be several hearings, including case management and issues resolution, to see if an agreement can be reached.

If not, there will usually be a final hearing where long-term decisions are made about your child’s future, who they will live with and what court order is best.

There are several final orders that the court can make:

Care Order: Your child stays in care until they are 18 unless the order is ended before then.
Supervision Order: Your child will live with you but Children’s Services will supervise the family.
Child Arrangements Order: Your child will live with another person, such as a family member or friend, for as long as the order exists. The order can also set out contact arrangements for your child.
Placement Order: Children’s Services have permission to place your child for adoption even if you do not agree.
Special Guardianship Order: Your child will live with another person, such as a family member, but they will also have parental responsibility for your child, giving them all the rights, powers, duties and responsibilities that a parent has.

If you would like to arrange an initial consultation with one of our specialist child law solicitors, get in touch by calling us on 0330 191 4938 or emailing us at [email protected].

You could also visit your local office and speak to one of our team directly.

Unless the police have been forced to intervene and use their emergency powers to protect a child, removal of children from your care by social services must be approved by a court or in agreement with the child’s family.

This means that evidence must have been provided to back up any claims that a child is at risk and that a court has decided that the child or children are to be removed from your care.

As prescribed by the children and families act 2014, care proceedings should conclude within a 26-week period. The uncertainty surrounding child care proceeding cases can be harmful and distressing to children and their families alike.

Each case will be unique and there are varying degrees of severity to be taken into consideration. In certain exception circumstances, care proceedings can be extended but it is not a common occurrence. Our care proceedings solicitors will support you through the process to try to resolve the situation in the given time frame.

What is a child arrangements order?	A child arrangements order is a court order determining who cares for a child. It specifies: Who the child lives with Where they live When and how the child sees both parents. The order can also include other types of contact, such as phone calls, video calls, and letters.
What is child maintenance?	Child maintenance is a payment from one parent to another to cover living expenses. Ideally, parents agree on the amount and what it covers themselves. If not, they can apply to the Child Maintenance Service(CMS),a government agency that arranges and collects maintenance payments.
What child custody laws might you and your partner need to resolve?	Where your children should live When your children should see you and your ex-partner Financial arrangements A potential change of the children’s names What school your children should attend

Social services & care proceedings solicitors

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Common questions on child care proceedings

Common questions on child care proceedings

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Can social services take away my child without evidence?

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Social services & care proceedings solicitors

What are child care proceedings?

Key child law information

Our child law services

Why might you need solicitors that deal with social services?

Meet our expert child law solicitors

What can happen in care proceedings?

What are the potential outcomes?

We offer an award-winning service

Why choose Stowe Family Law?

Let's ask Ms T

Let's ask Miss K

Let's ask Mrs H

Let's ask Legal 500

Let's ask The 2023 Chambers UK Guide

Let's ask Legal 500

Let's ask Mr J

Let's ask Mr S N

Common questions on child care proceedings

Common questions on child care proceedings

How do I arrange a consultation with social services solicitors?

Can social services take away my child without evidence?

Is there a time limit for care proceedings cases?

Latest advice

Book Your Free Callback

You’re Almost There...

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