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Child Law

Care Proceedings & Public Law

If social services have raised concerns about your child, it is frightening, and the steps that follow can move quickly. You have the right to be represented, and you do not have to face it alone. We stand with parents and families through every stage, with care and without judgement.

Request a callback020 8543 3302

You have the right to be heard, and to be represented

Care proceedings are brought by a local authority when it has serious concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing. They are dealt with under the Children Act 1989, and the court works to a statutory timetable, usually twenty-six weeks. It can feel overwhelming, but at every stage your voice as a parent matters, and the court must consider keeping families together wherever it is safe.

Often the first sign is a letter inviting you to a pre-proceedings meeting. Getting advice at that early stage can make a real difference to what happens next. Most of this work is covered by Legal Aid regardless of your income, and we will check your eligibility during a free short initial phone call, of up to five minutes. Choose the service closest to your situation below, or speak to us in confidence.

How we can help

The public law matters we represent families in most often.

Care & Supervision OrdersRepresentation for parents and families through care proceedings, from pre-proceedings to final hearing. Legal Aid usually available.Learn moreSpecial Guardianship OrdersFor relatives or close carers seeking to give a child a secure, permanent home through a Special Guardianship Order.Learn more

Compare your options at a glance

A short summary of each service above. Our fees are agreed in writing before any work begins. Home Office, court and other third-party fees are extra and listed on our price list.

ServiceKey pointFee
Care & Supervision OrdersWho it is forParents and anyone with parental responsibility whose child is the subject of care proceedings.Legal Aid
Special Guardianship OrdersWho it is forRelatives, family friends and carers raising a child who cannot live with their parents.£2000 – £10000 + VAT

Key facts

The main rules that apply to care proceedings & public law, with the law or official source for each.

  • Care proceedings must be completed within 26 weeks, unless the court extends the timetable because that is necessary to resolve the case justly.

    Children Act 1989, s 32

  • Parents, and others with parental responsibility, are entitled to Legal Aid in care proceedings without a means or merits test.

    Civil Legal Services (Financial) Regulations 2013

  • A care or supervision order can only be made if the child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm because of the care they are receiving.

    Children Act 1989, s 31

  • A first interim care order can last up to 8 weeks, then renewals of up to 4 weeks at a time.

    Children Act 1989, s 38

Correct as at October 2026. Rules and fees can change at short notice, so we confirm what applies to you before any application is made. This is general information, not legal advice on your case.

Common questions

A supervision order is an order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989 that puts a child under the supervision of the local authority, usually while they stay living at home. The council does not gain parental responsibility. A supervisor advises, assists and befriends the family. It normally lasts up to a year and can be extended to a maximum of three. Read more about care & supervision orders →

A special guardianship order is a court order under sections 14A to 14G of the Children Act 1989 that appoints a relative or carer as a child's special guardian. It gives a secure, long-term home to a child who cannot live with their parents, while keeping the child's legal link to their birth family, unlike adoption. Read more about special guardianship orders →

Both share the same legal threshold, but their effect is very different. A supervision order lets the council monitor and support your family while your child stays at home. A care order gives the council parental responsibility and lets it decide where your child lives, which may or may not be with you. Read more about care & supervision orders →

Adoption ends the legal relationship between a child and their birth parents. A special guardianship order does not. The birth parents remain the child's legal parents and keep their say over any future adoption, but the special guardian has the day-to-day final say on raising the child. It is a more permanent version of care within the family. Read more about special guardianship orders →

Not necessarily. A care order does not remove your parental responsibility, and children are sometimes placed at home with their parents under a care order. The council must allow you reasonable contact, and you can ask the court to discharge the order if your circumstances change. Every case turns on what is best for the child. Read more about care & supervision orders →

Not easily. A special guardianship order is more secure than a child arrangements order. A birth parent who wants to discharge it must first get the court's permission, and can only do so by showing a significant change in circumstances since the order was made. This gives you and the child real stability. Read more about special guardianship orders →

Contacted by social services?

The sooner you get advice, the more we can do to help. Tell us what has happened and we will explain the process gently and clearly, check whether Legal Aid covers your case, and tell you what to expect next. Everything you share is confidential, and there is no obligation.

Request a callback020 8543 3302
  • Legal Aid availableMost care proceedings are funded regardless of income.
  • Strictly confidentialYour situation is handled with discretion and care.
  • Regulated adviceAuthorised and regulated by the SRA, No. 490744.