Services

What Is a Special Guardianship Order (SGO)?

A Special Guardianship Order is a court order under the Children Act 1989 that places a child with a special guardian until they turn 18 — offering a more stable arrangement than a Child Arrangements Order, yet less permanent than adoption.

An SGO grants parental responsibility to the special guardian, enabling them to make major decisions about the child’s life, while preserving the child’s legal links with birth parents. 

Why Choose Us for SGO Advice & Representation?

• We are accredited family law solicitors specialising in kinship care, special guardianship and children law, based in London.

• We provide clear advice on eligibility, assessment, court process, and the implications of an SGO for all parties involved (guardian, child, birth family and local authority).

• We handle both private law applications (between family members) and public law cases (as part of care proceedings) for SGOs. 

• We support clients through the full process: initial consultation, strategy, document preparation, court application, hearings, enforcement and post-order support.

• Funding support: we assess for legal aid eligibility and provide transparent private fee options where required.

Our Special Guardianship Order Services

Advice & Eligibility Assessment

We assess whether an SGO might be the correct route for your situation, explain eligibility criteria, help with three-month notice to children’s services (if needed) and prepare you for assessment. 

Application Preparation & Court Representation

We guide you through drafting the application, liaising with the local authority, preparing supporting evidence and representing you in hearings for the Order.

Guardianship & Kinship Carer Support

We offer tailored advice for relatives, friends and foster carers who want to apply for an SGO, helping with rights, responsibilities, financial support, contact arrangements and child welfare.

Post-Order Advice & Enforcement

Once the SGO is granted, we support you with the implementation, enforcement of parental responsibility, possible variation or discharge applications and the long-term welfare of the child.

Funding Advice

SGO applications may qualify for legal aid depending on merits and means. We check eligibility, assist with applications and, where private funding is necessary, provide fixed-fee clarity.

Key Considerations for an SGO

• Eligibility: Applicants must typically be 18 or older, not the child’s parent, and have sufficient connection to the child (e.g., relative/foster carer or cared for the child for 3 of last 5 years). 

• Assessment & notice: If the child is in care, you must notify children’s services in writing at least 3 months prior to applying. The authority must conduct an assessment and prepare a report to the court. 

• Parental responsibility: A special guardian holds full parental responsibility until the child is 18, and generally has precedence over the birth parents’ decisions in most matters. 

• Support & stability: An SGO offers long-term stability, but unlike adoption, it does not end the legal link with the birth parents. 

• Financial/other support: Special guardians may be eligible for a means-tested allowance and other support services from local authorities. 

Our Straightforward Process & Transparent Fees

1. Initial consultation – a full review of your situation, eligibility, child’s needs and funding options.

2. Strategy & application preparation – we plan your case, assist with assessments, gathering evidence and liaising with children’s services.

3. Court submission & hearing – we complete the application, represent you in court hearings, advise on interim orders and ensure your case is heard effectively.

4. Post-order guidance – once the SGO is made, we continue to advise on responsibilities, enforcement, contact arrangements, ongoing welfare and variations.We provide clear cost estimates upfront and explore legal aid eligibility. Where private fee is required, we offer competitive fixed-fee packages.

FAQs – Special Guardianship Orders UK

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