Child Law Advice is operated by Coram Children’s Legal Centre. We provide specialist advice and information on child, family and education law to parents, carers and young people in England.
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Family
This section provides legal information and advice on family and children law matters in England. The information ranges from private law matters which includes contact, domestic abuse and adoption to public law matters including local authority involvement with children and child protection.
Parental disputes
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This section has information on the law relating to disputes about children such as where a child is to live, who is to have contact, whether a child can be removed from the UK, disputes about a child’s education and when a child’s surname can be changed.
This page provides information on abduction and the unlawful removal of a child from the UK including how to prevent abduction, what to do if a child is abducted and how to lawfully remove a child from the UK.
This page explains the role of a child advocate, who can represent the wishes and feelings of children in local authority care. It explains who is entitled to an advocate and the expected standards of an advocate.
This page explains the legal process of adoption. It explains who can adopt a child, the legal effects of adoption and how to apply for an adoption order. It also explains post-adoption contact.
This page explains the situations in which a child’s surname can be changed.
This page explains the law on child abuse, including the different forms of abuse and what to do if you are concerned about a child.
Children’s Services – Referral, assessments and outcomes
This page explains the duties of Children’s Services to act once a child protection referral is made. It explains the different investigations that can take place and the possible courses of action including a section 47 investigation, emergency protection order or care proceedings.
This page explains Child Protection Case Conferences, including who can attend, who is entitled to the minutes of the meeting and what will be discussed. It also explains child protection plans.
This page explains the law on spending time with a child when a relationship breaks down, including the different types of contact such as supervised or indirect contact and the family court orders for contact.
This page explains the legal definition of domestic abuse and the legal steps that can be taken to protect a person and/or child from domestic abuse.
This page provides information on how to make an application to locate a child whose whereabouts are unknown, and the powers of the court to disclose this information.
This page explains the process of family mediation, when mediation is necessary and the expected standards of a family mediator.
Legal Aid for family law matters
This page provides information on getting help to pay for legal costs for family matters. It explains what legal aid is, when it is available and the type of help it covers. It also provides information on the evidence needed for legal aid in private disputes about arrangements for children.
This page explains the law on parental responsibility, what this means in practice and how a person can acquire parental responsibility.
This page explains the law relating to the situation where a child goes to live with a person who is not related to them for more than 28 days. It explains the duties of the local authority to assess the suitability of a private foster carer and provide support.
This page explains the law on deciding where a child is to live including the different types of living arrangements and explaining the family court orders for residence.
This page explains the law on smacking and physically disciplining children. It explains when this would amount to an offence and the possible defences to this.
This page explains the situations where Special Guardianship might be appropriate to secure the long term arrangements for a child living with a person other than their parent. It explains the assessment process and support available.
This page provides advice on the law relating to surrogacy including the different types of surrogacy and who is regarded as the legal parent(s) of the child at the time of birth and for the future.
This page provides information on when you can take a child on holiday, whose permission is required and how you can prevent a parent from taking a child outside of England and Wales. It also includes information on taking a child on holiday during school term-time.
This page explains how, in law, a person can be appointed to act as a guardian for a child in the event of a parent’s or a carer’s death.
This page explains the situations where the High Court can become a protective guardian for a child under wardship including the effects of wardship.
Young people and medical treatment
This page explains the law on consent to medical treatment and what to do in the event that there is a dispute about medical treatment.
Raising and caring for children & young people
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This section has information on the law relating to caring for a child who is not yours, including information about kinship or family friends care, young carers. adoption, special guardianship and fostering. It also explains the obligations of the local authority to care for a child and the ability of the court to protect a child.
This page explains the legal process of adoption. It explains who can adopt a child, the legal effects of adoption and how to apply for an adoption order. It also explains post-adoption contact.
This page explains the law on children and young people working including how old a child or young person must be to work, what type of work they can do and the maximum amount of hours they can work.
This page explains the duties of the local authority to provide accommodation to homeless young people aged 16 or 17.
This page explains the law surrounding an arrangement where a child goes to live with a family member or friend and the obligations of the local authority to assess the carer for support and suitability.
Legal Aid for family law matters
This page provides information on getting help to pay for legal costs for family matters. It explains what legal aid is, when it is available and the type of help it covers. It also provides information on the evidence needed for legal aid in private disputes about arrangements for children.
This page explains the law on parental responsibility, what this means in practice and how a person can acquire parental responsibility.
This page provides information on how to make an application to locate a child whose whereabouts are unknown, and the powers of the court to disclose this information.
This page explains the law relating to the situation where a child goes to live with a person who is not related to them for more than 28 days. It explains the duties of the local authority to assess the suitability of a private foster carer and provide support.
This page explains the law on deciding where a child is to live including the different types of living arrangements and explaining the family court orders for residence.
This page explains the situations where Special Guardianship might be appropriate to secure the long term arrangements for a child living with a person other than their parent. It explains the assessment process and support available.
This page provides advice on the law relating to surrogacy including the different types of surrogacy and who is regarded as the legal parent(s) of the child at the time of birth and for the future.
This page explains how, in law, a person can be appointed to act as a guardian for a child in the event of a parent’s or a carer’s death.
This page explains the situations where the High Court can become a protective guardian for a child under wardship including the effects of wardship.
This page explains the duties of the local authority to assess and provide support to young people who care for family members.
Duties of Children’s Services
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This section has information on the law on child abuse, the duties of Children’s Services to provide for and protect children within their local area and advice for children and parents who have the involvement of Children’s Services in their lives.
This page explains the role of a child advocate, who can represent the wishes and feelings of children in local authority care. It explains who is entitled to an advocate and the expected standards of an advocate.
This page provides information on the powers of the local authority to take action to protect a child who is suffering harm or at risk of suffering harm.
This page explains the law on child abuse, including the different forms of abuse and what to do if you are concerned about a child.
This page explains the duty of Children’s Services under section 17 Children Act 1989 to provide services to children in need in their area. It explains the definition of a child in need, the assessment process and child in need plans and the types of services available.
This page explains the duties of Children’s Services to act once a child protection referral is made. It explains the different investigations that can take place and the possible courses of action including a section 47 investigation, emergency protection order or care proceedings.
Child Protection Conference and Plan
This page explains Child Protection Case Conferences, including who can attend, who is entitled to the minutes of the meeting and what will be discussed. It also explains child protection plans.
This page explains the legal definition of domestic abuse and the legal steps that can be taken to protect a person and/or child from domestic abuse.
Education for a looked after child
The Children Act 1989 places a legal duty on Local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of looked after children. This duty extends to promoting the child’s educational achievement and this information page will seek to explore the specific duties placed on Local Authorities in relation to the education of a looked after child.
This page provides information on how to make an application to locate a child whose whereabouts are unknown, and the powers of the court to disclose this information.
This page explains the law on leaving a child home alone including things to consider before taking this decision.
Homelessness (16/17 year olds)
This page explains the duties of the local authority to provide accommodation to homeless young people aged 16 or 17.
Legal Aid for family law matters
This page provides information on getting help to pay for legal costs for family matters. It explains what legal aid is, when it is available and the type of help it covers. It also provides information on the evidence needed for legal aid in private disputes about arrangements for children.
Local authorities duties in relation to looked after children
This information page sets out the functions and responsibilities of local authorities under Part 3 of the Children Act 1989, which concerns the provision of local authority support for children and families. Specifically, this page will detail Local Authorities’ duties in relation to care planning and placement decisions.
Police powers of protection and emergency protection orders
This information page will set out the law surrounding Police protection and Emergency Protection Orders which are options available to use in an emergency when a child is at risk of imminent harm. Please see the table below to find out further information.
This page provides information on the powers of the local authority to take action to protect a child who is suffering harm or at risk of suffering harm.
This page provides information on the duties of the Local Authority to provide accommodation to children under the age of 16. It includes information of how the Local Authority will assess a child and the types of accommodation that can be provided.
Services for children leaving care
This page explains the duties of the local authority to provide services and support for children who have been looked after once they reach the age of 16.
This page explains the rules surrounding direct payments by the local authority to help with meeting a child’s needs.
This page explains the law on spending time with a child when a relationship breaks down, including the different types of contact such as supervised or indirect contact and the family court orders for contact.
Child safeguarding
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This section has information on the law on all child protection issues, from domestic abuse, abduction, bullying and smacking to the duties of Children’s Services to protect children at risk of harm or homelessness.
This page provides information on abduction and the unlawful removal of a child from the UK including how to prevent abduction, what to do if a child is abducted and how to lawfully remove a child from the UK.
This page provides information on the duties of the local authority to provide accommodation to children under the age of 16. It includes information of how the local authority will assess a child and the types of accommodation that can be provided.
This page explains the role of a child advocate, who can represent the wishes and feelings of children in local authority care. It explains who is entitled to an advocate and the expected standards of an advocate.
This page explains the law on child abuse, including the different forms of abuse and what to do if you are concerned about a child.
This page explains the law on children and young people working including how old a child or young person must be to work, what type of work they can do and the maximum amount of hours they can work.
This page explains the duties of Children’s Services to act once a child protection referral is made. It explains the different investigations that can take place and the possible courses of action including a section 47 investigation, emergency protection order or care proceedings.
This page explains Child Protection Case Conferences, including who can attend, who is entitled to the minutes of the meeting and what will be discussed. It also explains child protection plans.
This page explains the legal definition of domestic abuse and the legal steps that can be taken to protect a person and/or child from domestic abuse.
This page provides information on the law relating to child sexting or sharing indecent images or texts of children and contains advice on what to do if your child has been involved in sexting.
This page provides information on how to make an application to locate a child whose whereabouts are unknown, and the powers of the court to disclose this information.
This page explains the law on leaving a child home alone including things to consider before taking this decision.
This page explains the duties of the local authority to provide accommodation to homeless young people aged 16 or 17.
Legal Aid for family law matters
This page provides information on getting help to pay for legal costs for family matters. It explains what legal aid is, when it is available and the type of help it covers. It also provides information on the evidence needed for legal aid in private disputes about arrangements for children.
This page explains the law on smacking and physically disciplining children. It explains when this would amount to an offence and the possible defences to this.
This page explains the situations where the High Court can become a protective guardian for a child under wardship including the effects of wardship.
This page explains the law surrounding contact with a child who is looked after, including how to apply for contact with a child in care and what the court will consider.
This page provides information on the duties of schools and local authorities to prevent and tackle bullying in schools and action that can be taken by a parent or child to address bullying.
Relationship breakdown
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This section has information on the law relating to relationship breakdown including divorce, civil partnerships and alternatives to ending a marriage or civil partnership.
Marriage and Civil Partnership
This page explains the law on marriage and civil partnership. It provides information on the rights, responsibilities and obligations of parties to a marriage and civil partnership.
This page provides information on divorce including the grounds and reasons for divorce, how to make an application and information on the overall process.
This page provides information on dissolving or ending a civil partnership including the grounds and reasons for ending the civil partnership, how to make an application and information on the overall process.
Alternatives to ending a marriage or civil partnership
This page provides information on the alternatives to ending a marriage or civil partnership which are annulment and judicial separation. It explains the grounds and the process.
Education
This section provides legal information and advice on education law in England. The information ranges from the law on bullying, transport and home education to school admissions, exclusions and the duties of schools and local authorities to children with Special Educational Needs.
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Banning parents from school premises
This page explains the law on barring a parent from entering the premises of a school including how a parent can make representations about this and the consequences of breaching a bar.
This page provides information on the duties of schools and local authorities to prevent and tackle bullying in schools and action that can be taken by a parent or child to address bullying.
Charging for school activities
Sections 449-462 of the Education Act 1996 govern the law on “charging for school activities”. This applies to all maintained schools, academies and Local Authorities. This information page will cover what schools are able to charge for, what they are unable to charge for and also related areas such as optional extras and voluntary contributions.
This page provides information on the duties of schools and local authorities to deal with complaints against a school or teacher and how the complaint can be escalated to higher authorities.
This page explains the rules surrounding direct payments by the local authority to help with meeting a child’s needs.
Disability discrimination in education
This page provides information on what constitutes disability discrimination and explains the duties of education providers not to discriminate against pupils on grounds of disability.
This page provides information on the powers of schools to discipline their students for example the use of detention, seclusion or isolation and the use of reasonable force.
This page provides information on what constitutes discrimination and explains the duties of education providers to not discriminate against pupils based upon protected characteristics.
Education for children out of school
This page provides information on the duties of schools and local authorities to provide education for children out of school because of exclusion, illness or other reasons.
Education for looked after children
The Children Act 1989 places a legal duty on Local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of looked after children. This duty extends to promoting the child’s educational achievement and this information page will seek to explore the specific duties placed on Local Authorities in relation to the education of a looked after child.
This page provides information on the procedure and requirements for home educating children.
Legal Aid for educational law matters
This page provides information on getting publically funded legal assistance for educational law matters such as discrimination, special educational needs or judicial review. It explains what legal aid is, when it is available and the type of help it covers.
This page explains the circumstances in which a school can agree with a pupil and their parents/carers for the pupil to move schools or change their educational programme. It explains what this will involve and what might be included in a managed move agreement.
This page provides information on how schools can support children and young adults experiencing mental health difficulties and when a mental health difficulty can be considered a disability or Special Educational Need.
National Curriculum at Secondary School
This page provides information on the subjects that schools in England must teach in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 and offers advice on what to do if you want to withdraw your child from certain subjects or examinations.
Radicalisation in schools and The Prevent Duty
This page provides information on the Prevent Duty placed on schools to safeguard pupils from radicalisation and being drawn into terrorism. It includes government definitions on terrorism, radicalisation and extremism and explains the obligations of schools to assess risk, train staff, educate pupils and refer to the Channel programme when there is a need for intervention.
This page provides information on the schools admission process, the law surrounding school admissions and appealing the refusal of a school place.
This page provides answers to FAQ surrounding admissions for both primary and secondary schools.
This page provides information about the law on school attendance and the powers of the Local Authority in enforcing school attendance.
This page provides advice on what the expected standards are in relation to food provided in schools in England, outlines the role of the governing body, and stipulates the legal requirements contained in legislation.
This page provides information about when a child can be excluded and the obligations of the school to review an exclusion and the right to appeal an exclusion.
School powers to search and screen pupils
This page provides information on the powers of schools to screen and search pupils for prohibited items with and without their consent and the power to seize and confiscate items from pupils.
This page provides information on the duties of schools and local authorities to assess, identify and provide for a child’s special educational needs within school.
Supporting children with medical needs in schools
This page provides information on the duties of schools and local authorities to assess, identify and provide for a child’s special educational needs within school.
This page provides information on the duties of local authorities to provide free school transport to children and young people.
This page describes the different types of schools in the UK and how they are funded and managed. It explains the difference between maintained schools, academies, free schools and independent schools.
Participation of young people in education, employment or training
This page provides information on the raising of the participation age in relation to education, employment and training for 16-18 year olds.
This page contains a list of organisations that may be able to help with subjects not covered by this site.
Attending court
This section is aimed primarily at individuals who have made their applications in private family law cases. It provides information on the court process, including what to expect in different types of hearings and explains the rules of evidence and the role of CAFCASS. It also provides practical advice on representing yourself in court and has templates of a Child Arrangements Order, Exhibit Sheet and Witness Statement.
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This page explains the process of family mediation where families can sit down with an impartial party to discuss the future arrangements for children. It explains when mediation is necessary, when you might be exempt from attending and the expected standards of a family mediator.
Do I need a solicitor or barrister?
This page provides information on the different options available when bringing a case to court, including legal aid, private representation, representing yourself, using a solicitor’s unbundled services or instructing a direct access barrister.
This page explains the different types of hearing that you might have in private family law cases, including the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment, fact finding hearings and final hearings.
Legal Aid for family law matters
This page provides information on getting help to pay for legal costs for family matters. It explains what legal aid is, when it is available and the type of help it covers. It also provides information on the evidence needed for legal aid in private disputes about arrangements for children.
This page provides information and advice on going through the court process yourself, explaining what to expect and who you can bring to court with you.
This page explains the approach of the courts in ordering that one party pay the costs of another party in disputes relating to a child. It gives examples of when costs have been ordered and the circumstances that the court will consider.
This page explains the role of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in the court process, including the safeguarding checks that they carry out and explaining section 7 reports.
A sample Child Arrangements Order
This page has a sample of an order that can be issued setting out contact and living arrangements for children and an explanation of the contents and terminology used in an order.
This page has a sample of an exhibit sheet used to set out the evidence that you wish to present to court.
This page has a template of a witness statement which can be used in preparing statements to the court.
