Family Carers

Machins have a team of expert children lawyers with experience in representing grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members in understanding the legal implications of the options available so they can secure the placement of a family child in their care under the most appropriate order.

Talk to one of our friendly and experienced team on 01582 514000

If you’re caring for a child who is not your own – whether you’re a grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, or close family friend – you may find yourself navigating unfamiliar legal territory. At Machins Solicitors, we provide clear, compassionate advice on all aspects of child law, from the moment a child is placed in your care through to any necessary court proceedings.

We understand that stepping in to care for a child can be both rewarding and overwhelming. Our experienced family law team is here to guide you through the legal steps needed to secure your role and protect the child’s wellbeing.

Family enjoying a day at the beach, representing Family Law Solicitors Luton and Berkhamsted

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We can help with:

Child Arrangement Orders – to formalise where a child lives and who they spend time with.
Special Guardianship Orders – offering greater security for long-term carers without severing legal ties to birth parents.
Parental Responsibility – helping you gain the legal authority to make decisions about the child’s education, health, and welfare.
Permission to Apply – advising on when and how to seek the court’s permission to make an application if you’re not a parent.
Specific Issue Orders – resolving particular disputes, such as schooling or medical treatment.
Prohibited Steps Orders – preventing certain actions, like removing a child from your care or taking them abroad without consent.

Whether you’re already caring for a child or considering taking on that responsibility, we’re here to ensure you understand your rights and options. Our goal is to help you provide a safe, stable environment for the child in your care – backed by the legal protections you need.

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Frequently asked questions

A Child Arrangements Order sets out the arrangements for a child’s care, including who a child should live with, this would also give you parental responsibility for the child in your care.

This parental responsibility would be equal to that of all other persons with parental responsibility.

In order to make an application for a Child Arrangements Order, you would need permission of all persons with parental responsibility or permission of the court, if you do not currently have parental responsibility yourself.

For further information please click here.

A Special Guardianship Order is an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian. It is a private law order made under the Children Act 1989 and is intended for those children who cannot live with their birth parents and who would benefit from a legally secure placement.

It is a more secure order than a Child Arrangements Order because a parent cannot apply to discharge it unless they have the permission of the court to do so, however it is less secure than an Adoption Order because it does not end the legal relationship between the children and their birth parents. However when such an order is made, it is with a view to the child remaining in the care of the appointed special guardian’s throughout their minority, unless there is a successful application for permission and discharge.

Please note there are a number of matters to consider when making an application for Special Guardianship Order and we can advise you in respect of these.

Parental Responsibility means all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which a carer of a child has in relation to a child and their property. It gives the carer responsibility for making important decisions in the child’s life like education, religion and medical care. It enables the carer to make day to day decisions.

For further information please click here.