Safeguarding children a priority in Special Guardianship Orders

A Special Guardianship Order (SGO) can help to ensure that vulnerable children are placed in nurturing and stable environments where they can thrive and flourish.

Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) in England and Wales are a legal mechanism designed to safeguard the welfare and stability of children who cannot live with their birth parents. These orders confer extensive rights and responsibilities upon the appointed guardian, ensuring the child’s needs are met in a nurturing environment. However, navigating the complexities of SGOs can demand expertise in family law. Here, the team at Askews Legal LLP outline how solicitors can assist this process.

An SGO is a legal arrangement made by the court, granting individuals—often family members or close acquaintances—specific guardianship responsibilities over a child. Unlike adoption, which severs legal ties with birth parents, SGOs typically maintain some form of contact or relationship between the child and their biological family.

Solicitors can play multifaceted roles throughout the SGO process, serving as legal advisors, advocates, and facilitators, from initial consultations to courtroom representation.

One of the primary roles of solicitors in the context of SGOs is to offer comprehensive legal counsel to prospective guardians. This entails explaining the intricacies of SGOs, outlining the rights and responsibilities, and elucidating the potential implications of seeking such an order. Furthermore, solicitors can prepare and submit SGO applications to the court, ensuring all legal requirements are met and therefore minimising the risk of delays or complications in the application process.

In cases where disputes arise between prospective guardians and birth parents or other interested parties, solicitors can facilitate negotiations and mediate conflicts.

Solicitors should prioritise the best interests of the child above all else throughout the SGO process, advocating for arrangements that promote the child’s safety, well-being, and developmental needs and taking into account their individual circumstances and preferences.

If you require legal advice concerning Special Guardianship Orders, please email enquiries@askewslegal.co

Please note that this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.