Care Proceeding Lawyers
Child Care Proceedings
Every local authority has a duty to make sure that children are safe and protected from harm. If social services are worried about your child’s welfare and are thinking about starting court proceedings, it is vital that you obtain legal advice as soon as possible.
At McAlister Family Law, we have one of the largest and most specialised child law teams in the country.
A number of our solicitors are members of the Law Society’s Children Accreditation Scheme which means that they are approved to represent children and are highly experienced in childcare proceedings and hearings relating to children.
Our team has been representing children, parents, and other family members for more than thirty years and in that time, we’ve developed a level of understanding and care that goes beyond the norm.
Our specialists can advise on the full range of issues including child neglect, cases of complex medical matters as well as applications involving allegations of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Local Authority
The local authority can start ‘care proceedings’ if they are worried about a child and can apply to the family court for a care order to make arrangements relating to the child’s safety or well-being.
They can also apply for a placement order if they believe a child cannot safely be returned to their parents or other family members and should be adopted. This allows the council to place the child with suitable adopters.
If your child is taken into care because of a care order, your local council will share parental responsibility with you for making most of the important decisions about your child’s upbringing, including:
- Who looks after them
- Where they live
- How they are educated
- Who they will have contact with
It can take up to 26 weeks for a court to decide what should happen to a child and for care plans to be solidified. Some complex cases can take longer.
During the court proceedings, the parents and extended family will be assessed by social services and an independent guardian (CAFCASS officer) will be appointed by the court to represent the child as a standard practice.
Your child will also have their own solicitor who is usually appointed by the independent guardian. At the end of the case, the court will take into account all of the assessments, the statements of the parents, and the recommendation of the guardian before making a final decision.
Public funding (legal aid) is usually available to help parents get the expert advice and representation that they need in child protection cases.
Our practitioners are well known across the field as they are members of a number of organisations including the Association of Lawyers for Children, and Child Concern. They also sit as members of the Greater Manchester Family Justice Board and the Greater Manchester Family Forum.
The Types of Cases Our Lawyers Can Help With
Our team of lawyers work on a range of cases for care proceedings, such as:
- Adoption and placement order proceedings
- Discharge of care orders and revocation of placement orders
- Special guardianship orders
- Contact with children in care
- Pre-proceedings work (including attending any required meetings with you)
- Emergency protection orders
- Care and supervision orders
Get in Contact with Our Care Proceedings Law Experts Today
Our team helps families resolve issues over child contact arrangements and supports families to grow through surrogacy, donor conception, and adoption. We are home to the most specialist children’s law team in the country, so you can rest assured that we can help you.
To speak with one of our lawyers, call us on 0333 202 6433 or email us at hello@mcalisterfamilylaw.co.uk.
