Please note the below methods are the only way to contact Child Law Advice. Please do not contact Coram Children’s Legal Centre’s reception as they will be unable to assist.
An email enquiry can be submitted 24/7 and we aim to respond within 5 working days.
Please use our Email Advice Form.
Bookable call-back
Available to book hourly Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm.
This is a paid-for service. You can find our call-back terms & conditions and book a call-back here.
Webchat
Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5.30pm.
A webchat icon will appear on the right hand side of the page if an adviser is available.
Telephone
Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
- Family Line: 0300 330 5480
- Education line: 0300 330 5485
The demand for both lines are high and the funding we have in place is limited. We are only able to answer a limited number of calls. We would therefore ask you to carefully read through all the relevant available information provided on this website and only contact our intensive support telephone lines with genuine, clarifying questions on the information provided.
Please do not call Coram Children’s Legal Centre’s main reception line. You will not receive advice on this phone number and you will not be able to reach an adviser through this number.
General T&C’s
- We strongly recommend reading through our service standards, privacy policy and terms and conditions prior to connecting with an adviser.
- We can only advise if the situation relates to a child residing in England.
- We cannot advise without taking a name, address and telephone number.
- We cannot provide advice if you have instructed a solicitor or barrister to act for you in relation to the issue you are contacting us about. We are also unable to advise where you are calling on behalf of someone who already has legal representation. In addition, we cannot provide advice if you have applied for legal aid through a solicitor for the same matter.
- We cannot advise if your matter falls outside of the remit of family or education law.
- We cannot provide advice on financial matters including child maintenance.
- We cannot advise on the merits of appeals.
- We cannot help students/professionals with research projects. Our staff are extremely busy and do not have the spare capacity. We would request that you view the pages of this website for information.
- The webchat service is for advice only. We cannot organise a call back through this service. To book a call back please click here.
- If we cannot assist because the matter is outside our scope, we will let you know as soon as possible, explain why we are unable to help, and where appropriate signpost you to another service.
- Abusive behaviour towards our staff will not be tolerated and we reserve the right to terminate the advice session if this occurs. Our staff will also not tolerate bad language being used.
- We do not set a maximum number of times a client may contact the helpline. Clients may return as circumstances change or new questions arise, and we will provide further advice where it remains appropriate and within our remit. However, we may place boundaries on further contact where:
- a caller is using the service in a way that prevents others from accessing it
- the caller’s needs are no longer appropriate for our helpline (for example, where legal representation is required)
- there is a pattern of repeat contact about the same issue with no change in circumstances.
In such cases, we will explain our position clearly and signpost to more appropriate sources of support where possible.
Cost of calls
The Child Law Advice service operates an 0300 number. Calls to 0300 numbers cost the same as calls to geographic 01 and 02 numbers and are included in inclusive minutes and discount packages. Calls from landlines and mobiles are usually included in free call bundles. Where charges apply, landline calls typically cost up to 9p per minute, and mobile calls usually range from 8p to 40p per minute.
Feedback
To leave feedback about our services, please use the form on our feedback page.
Communication difficulties
If you find it difficult to speak English, call us to connect to an interpreter. We have access to interpreters in 150 languages through Language Line.
