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What is a special guardianship order?

Sometimes there is a crisis in the family home, and it is necessary for the children to be looked after by someone else, often a close friend or family member.

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In most cases, this is for a short time; in others, a more permanent solution is needed. At this point, a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) may be considered.

Applying for an SGO is a big decision, and it’s important to get the right information and support before deciding to apply.

Our experienced child law solicitors offer clear, sound legal advice on SGOs and can talk you through the considerations you need to make before deciding if this is the correct order for you and the child.

We will help you to obtain a Special Guardianship assessment, draft the application to the court and attend the court hearings that follow.

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Key child law information

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

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How to apply for a special guardianship order?

You will need to go through an assessment programme by your local authority’s children’s services department to ensure that an SGO is in the child’s best interests. They will investigate and prepare a report for the court.

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You can make an application for an order here and a supporting statement on the Government website.

However, the laws surrounding SGOs are complex, and we strongly recommend that you seek legal advice

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Meet our expert child law solicitors
Jemma
Slavin
Regional Director, London & South East
Louise
Chipchase
Regional Director, South West & Wales
Rachel
Roberts
Regional Director, Midlands and North
Beth
Sheridan
Managing Partner, East Midlands
Emma
Newman
Managing Partner, Surrey, Sussex & Kent
Helen
Miller
Managing Partner, North West
Liza
Gatrell
Managing Partner, Hampshire, Oxfordshire & Dorset
Marjha
Golding-Evans
Managing Partner, South West & Wales
Nastassia
Burton
Managing Partner, Leeds & Manchester
Phoebe
Turner
Managing Partner, London
Rachel
Watson
Managing Partner, Beds, Bucks and Herts.
Rebecca
Calden-Storr
Managing Partner, Birmingham and West Midlands
Samantha
Armour
Managing Partner, North Hampshire and Berkshire
Sebastian
Burrows
Managing Partner, Essex
Amy
Langford
Team Leader Partner, South West & Wales
Angela
Traynier
Team Leader Partner, Manchester and Liverpool
Claire
Cleary
Team Leader Partner, Birmingham and West Midlands
Elaine
Morrison
Team Leader Partner, London
Emma
McMorrow
Team Leader Partner, London
Filomena
Sterkaj
Team Leader Partner, Chelmsford, Bishop's Stortford & Colchester
Florence
Ashcroft-Lane
Team Leader Partner, East Midlands
Gemma
Davison
Team Leader Partner, Head of Oxford and Banbury
Gemma
Thew
Team Leader Partner, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire & Dorset
Jenine
Imms
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Katie
Kilburn
Team Leader Partner, Leeds
Kate
McCarthy
Team Leader Partner, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire & Dorset
Lauren
Naismith
Team Leader Partner, North Hampshire and Berkshire
Maria
Coster
Team Leader Partner, Sheffield
Matthew
Taylor
Team Leader Partner, North West
Maya
Bhatiani
Team Leader Partner, Essex & Kent
Melanie
Quinn
Team Leader Partner, St Albans
Niamh
McCarthy
Team Leader Partner, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire & Dorset
Nicky
Hunter
Team Leader Partner, Newcastle, North Shields & Middlesbrough
Rachel
Fisher
Team Leader Partner, South West & Wales
Rosanna
Hounslow
Team Leader Partner, London
Sarah
Peters
Team Leader Partner, London
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Haynes
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Townsend
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Carter
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Newman
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Grace
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Connor
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Taylor
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Helen
Hanson
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Holly
Lamb
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Jennifer
Gray
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Jennifer
Reddy
Partner, Altrincham & Knutsford
Jo
Backwith
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Farndale
Partner, London
Sarah
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Hodges
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Vegh
Partner, London
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Rawlins
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Alice
Price
Senior Associate, Birmingham
Barbara
Bitis
Senior Associate, Southampton
Ciara
Pugh
Senior Associate, London, Bromley & Richmond
David
Allen
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Emel
Hamit
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Beven
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Gibson
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Wright
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Read-Thomas
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Nelson
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Ross
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Susan Fleming
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Masters
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McDonald
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Pilling
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Kate
Newton
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Stewart
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Jordan
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Laura
George
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Stocks
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La-Toyah
Phillips
Senior Associate, North Hampshire and Berkshire
Louise
Forsyth
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Nero
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Beasley
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Priyal
Patel
Senior Associate, St Albans
Rachel
Lander
Senior Associate, Stony Stratford
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Jacobs
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Sarah
McLoughlin
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Sarah
Sowden
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Nicole
Turner
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Tara
Baker
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Alexandra
Martin
Associate, Liverpool
Alex
Panayides
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Anna
Clarkson
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Baljinder
Boughan
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Marques
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Hallam
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Lorimer
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Hughes
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Demiri
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Windle
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Wile
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Leach
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Kerese
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Whelan
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Owen
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Brookfield
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Lal
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Harwin
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Wilson
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Rukhma
Sohail
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Ballinger
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Thayre
Associate, Tunbridge Wells
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Croft
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Subecca
Sheikh
Associate, London
Susannah
May
Associate, London
Tamara
Adams
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Solicitor, Newcastle
Annique
Sampson
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Kirkby
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Hubert
Solicitor, London
Courtney
Rooney
Solicitor, Cheltenham
Daniela
Da Silva
Solicitor, London
Deepika
Bhoolah-Bansal
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Elizabeth
Gray
Solicitor, St Albans
Elona
Smith
Solicitor, Surrey, Sussex & Hampshire
Francesca
Sanderson
Solicitor, North Hampshire and Berkshire
Hayley
Goucher
Solicitor, Tunbridge Wells
Jade
Bray
Solicitor, North Hampshire and Berkshire
Jennifer
Hargreaves
Solicitor, South West & Wales
Judith
Brock
Solicitor, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire & Dorset
Julia
Francis-Owusuasefa
Solicitor, Guildford
Kamila
Ewa Cyran
Solicitor, North Hampshire and Berkshire
Katrina
Burrows
Solicitor, North Hampshire and Berkshire
Kelsey
Faulkner
Solicitor, North West
Khadiza
Ahad
Solicitor, St Albans
Kiren
Kaur
Solicitor, Chelmsford
Kirsten
Crouch
Solicitor, Oxford
Lauren
Gauld
Solicitor, Chelmsford
Megan
Durkin
Solicitor, North West
Mollie
Greenwood
Solicitor, North West
Molly
Beattie
Solicitor, Newcastle
Nhu
Vo
Solicitor, Kingston
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Dann
Solicitor, Oxford
Orla
O'Connor
Solicitor, Newcastle
Paula
Lucena
Solicitor, St Albans
Phoebe
Trott
Solicitor, Chelmsford
Rachel
Tomley
Solicitor, Birmingham
Rebecca
Sutton
Solicitor, London
Becca
Reynolds
Solicitor, North West
Sarah
Parkin
Solicitor, Sheffield
Shahana
Ravendradas
Solicitor, Chelmsford
Shaughney
Loveridge
Solicitor, Cheltenham
Susannah
Hawker
Solicitor, Southampton
Yasmin
Trow
Solicitor, Manchester
Yvonne
Taiwo
Solicitor, Chelmsford
Zoe
Cross
Solicitor, Leeds
Alexzandra
Hughes
Family Lawyer, Liverpool, Manchester, Chester & Wigan
Nicola
Lewis
Family Lawyer, Stony Stratford
Billie
Miles-Berry
Family Lawyer, Sheffield
Caitlin
Hall
Legal Assistant, Liverpool
Ashleigh
Balodis
Trainee Solicitor, Stony Stratford
Harpreet
Kaur
Trainee Solicitor, Bristol
Becka
Headley
Trainee CILEx Lawyer, Exeter
Emily
Harrison-Croft
Client Services Team Lawyer
Mark
Christie
Client Services Team Lawyer
Angela
Sandhu
Paralegal, London & St Albans
Nayab
Fahim
Paralegal, North West
Ramneek
Kaur
Paralegal, Stony Stratford
Sophia
Bradfield
Paralegal, Cardiff
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Meet our team
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Special guardianship orders are crucial for providing stable care arrangements outside of traditional parenting. Our team excels in navigating the legal intricacies, ensuring secure and supportive environments for children under these unique circumstances.

Maya Bhatiani, Team Leader Partner

Why choose Stowe Family Law?

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Jemma Slavin is a passionate advocate of her clients’ causes and knows each case extremely well. Jemma is alive to what the client needs from the legal proceedings and does all she can to help them achieve it.

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...I must mention I’ve contacted over 5 solicitors. You are by far the most efficient and have sent me so much information within 24 hours. I feel really comfortable using you as my son is my world and you have shown support already.

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Charlotte Newman was supportive, professional and made the stressful process of divorce and child custody less daunting. She was available when I needed her and I couldn't be more grateful for all her help. I would highly recommend!

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May I take this opportunity to personally thank you for your support at this difficult time. I very much appreciated your flexibility and responsiveness to such tight turnaround times. I received a thorough, professional yet compassionate service.

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Congratulations to Helen Miller who maintains Band 3 ranking. Helen Miller is the managing partner at Stowe Family Law for Altrincham, Liverpool and Crewe. She assists clients with financial remedy cases and private law children matters, including abduction cases.

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Having received a devastating blow that my ex-wife was planning to relocate with our daughter I researched lawyers and as soon as I spoke to Rebecca (Calden Storr) her calm, professional and reassuring nature made the decision to pick Stowe Family Law easy. Rebecca held our hand throughout the process and I can't recommend her highly enough. She ex… Read moreplains everything in simple terms so we fully understood everything happening and her advice was second to none. As a father, you are sometimes made to feel like the underdog but Rebecca never did this and reassured me that we had a good case. Most importantly we achieved an end result that reflected our daughter's wishes and meant that my time with her has increased to shared care. My partner and I couldn't be happier. Thank you
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