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Special guardianship order
A Special Guardianship Order is a relatively new legal option intended to provide stability and long term security for children where adoption is not suitable.
A Special Guardianship Order (SGO) makes one or more carers a child's special guardian giving them Parental Responsibility and the ability to make day-to-day decisions in all aspects of caring for the child.
Michelmores special guardianship order team
The Legal Services Commission
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) runs the legal aid scheme in England and Wales . We work in partnership with solicitors and not-for-profit organisations to provide information, advice and legal representation to people in need. We also make sure that people get the information, advice and legal help they need to deal with a wide range of problems.
- Tel: 0845 345 4345
- Website: http://www.legalservices.gov.uk
Association of Lawyers for Children
The Association of Lawyers for Children promote access to justice for children and young people within the legal profession. Our aim is to develop and improve the practice of lawyers in meeting the needs of children who become involved in legal processes by promoting standards of best practice and interdisciplinary training.
- Tel: 020 8224 7071
- Email: admin@alc.org.uk
- Website: http://www.alc.org.uk
(Michelmores are not responsible for third party website contents).
How do I apply for a Special Guardianship Order?
The first step is to provide written notice to your local Social Services Department. The Local Authority (also known as Social Services) must be given 3 month's notice before you are able to make an application to the Court for a Special Guardianship Order.
What's the difference between Special Guardianship and adoption?
With a Special Guardianship Order, the birth parent(s) retains Parental Responsibility albeit in a weakened form. With adoption, the birth parents have their Parental Responsibility extinguished.
When is a Special Guardianship Order considered the most appropriate?
SGOs are usually granted to grandparents who are caring for a grandchild when the parents are unable, and may be opposed, to the grandparents caring for the child. Practically, the grandparents require dominant responsibility which an SGO provides. However, if the grandparents were to adopt their grandchildren, then this 'skews' the family dynamics with a grandchild becoming, in law, a child of the grandparent and thus a sibling to the child's birth mother or father.
Special guardianship order
A Special Guardianship Order (SGO) may be appropriate for children who do not want to be legally separated from their birth family, but would benefit from greater legal security and permanence in thier new home.
