CHILD CARE PROCEEDINGS SOLICITORS

CHILD CARE PROCEEDINGS

Public Law Child Care Proceedings: Representing Parents and Children

If the Local Authority becomes involved with you about the care of your children we can help you through this difficult process. Our specialist solicitors can untangle the complex process of care proceedings from the initial stages often referred to as the PLO right up to the final hearing.

If you are a parent of a child involved in Care Proceedings you will be entitled to Legal Aid. Other family members may also be entitled to Legal Aid and it is important that you contact us to discuss your options. We are accredited solicitors and members of the Family Law Panel, Child Family Panel and Resolution.

CHILD LAW SERVICES

We pride ourselves on being friendly and approachable so if you need advice from one of our friendly solicitors, please do get in touch by calling 020 8889 3319 or via one of the options below.

QUESTION

If you have a question about our services, please use our online form to send us an email.

CALLBACK

If you need to speak with someone you will always receive a friendly welcome if you telephone between the hours of 9am-5pm but if we are closed, you can request a callback. We will call you back as near to your requested time as possible.

Child Care Proceedings Q&A

The Local Authority are concerned about my children. What happens next?

If the Local Authority believes there is a risk to your children they may make an urgent application to the court. At this stage you will be provided with details of their plans and you will be advised to see a solicitor. The Local Authority may ask the court for an ‘interim care order’ which will allow them to be able to make decisions for the child including where they are to live. If you are at this stage it is important that you contact us to discuss.

If the Local Authority are concerned about your child/children but do not regard the matter as an emergency you will be expected to work with them to address these concerns. If you have a letter which states that the Local Authority may issue court proceedings if you do not address their concerns you must seek legal advice immediately. This stage is referred to as the Pre-proceedings stage and if the Local Authority is still not satisfied it has the option to make an application to the court. If you are not sure about the type of Local Authority involvement with you contact us or seek legal advice immediately.

It is important to be aware that the Local Authority will only ask the court to take a child into care as a last resort and much will depend on the particular facts and circumstances surrounding your case and your engagement with them.

Could my family look after my child?

It is the responsibility of the Local Authority to consider other family members or relatives as potential carers where they are seeking the removal of a child from a parent provided they are willing to be put themselves forward. This is a preferable option to placing a child in foster care or adoption. If you are a family member in this position you will not automatically be entitled to legal aid and it is important to seek legal advice. We can advise you as to how to proceed and become a party in the proceedings to care for the child. The types of orders that the courts may grant in favour of family members if they are successfully assessed include a ‘Child arrangements order – Residence Order’ or ‘Special Guardianship Order’. These orders provide parental responsibility for decisions to be made for the child.

Can I discharge a final care order?

If a Care Order is made and your child does not live with you, you can in certain circumstances apply to discharge or end the Care Order. It is advisable to seek legal advice as it will very much depend of the facts of the case and any significant changes.

What is an EPO?

An Emergency Protection Order (EPO) is an order made where a child is immediately removed to prevent a danger to that child and this may involve the police. It will last for eight days but it can be extended by the court.

What is a PLO?

A PLO is a meeting which the Local Authority (LA) will invite a parent to if they believe they have sufficient concerns about a child in their care. It is often seen as a ‘last chance’ to prevent the LA escalating the matter to court.

Eren .M.T

19:04 23 Aug 23

Great service and amazing people will recommend to anyone!

Jamie Parris

10:44 23 Aug 23

Vas, TR Partner, was recommended to me by one of her previous clients and subsequently approached to manage a protracted matrimonial matter for a close family friend, the context being a poor and prior experience with aAnother Legal Firm and Solicitor therein. With a horrendous and prior experience in mind, the first and most important qualities we found in Vas was her warmth, approachability and empathy, Vas's ability (and i would argue in the legal profession 'willingness' ) to respond to queries both formally and informally lead to a very fluid engagement and legal journey and a real sense that we existed as clients and our issues, albeit small on occasion, actually mattered. Vas managed to unpick the prior position we found ourselves in then managed, lead and explained the legal process of divorce moving forward, all of which was carried out effectively and efficiently with an awareness of our legal costs in mind. Without hesitation i would recommend Tyrer Roxburgh as a firm and Vas in particular for resolution of your divorce and matrimonial matters - you will find her client care skills, her mannerisms and her attention to detail exceptional. My sincere thanks to all at Tyrer Roxburgh for not manifesting as the legal stereotype and for just getting the job done.

Carly Hinds

15:08 22 Aug 23

Working with Vas she was calm, confident and put me at ease whilst being extremely professional yet I found her full of empathy.She was always available via phone and was prompt at responding to emails and always did what she said she was going to do and kept me updated throughout. I got a very positive result after working with her.I do not hesitate to recommend her and Tyrer Roxburgh.

Mohamud mohamed Sh bashir

11:37 09 Apr 23

Leyla Haybe

10:07 21 Mar 23

Fantastic and excellent solicitors helped me through so much was there each step of the way also would like to thank nitu who handled my case and eleni for being at the court always reassuring me answering emails on time and responding to everyone was friendly would deffo recommend

Lauren Jackson

11:33 17 Feb 23

This firm is amazing, I had Nitu handling my case from start to finish with a positive outcome. I’d also like to thank Eleni who represented me at the proceedings. Throughout the team have been warm and friendly and have gone above and beyond. Emails are always answered and questions are always answered. Nothing seems too much. Would highly recommend.