Special guardianship orders


Published by a ÀÏ˾»úÎçÒ¹¸£Àû Family expert
Practice notes

Special guardianship orders


Published by a ÀÏ˾»úÎçÒ¹¸£Àû Family expert

Practice notes
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This Practice Note explains what a special guardianship order (SGO) is under the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989) and the courts powers to make an SGO either as a result of an application or of its own initiative. It explains how an SGO confers parental responsibility for a child and also covers the criteria for making an SGO.

What is a special guardianship order?

A special guardianship order (SGO) is an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child's special guardian. It has been described as 'a half-way house' between residence orders (now child arrangements orders) and adoption orders. The concept of special guardianship relates to the exercise of parental responsibility and not to parenthood.

Special guardianship is a private law order but it is available in both private and public law proceedings and will be considered as one of the options for a child in care proceedings.

An SGO gives non-parents a more permanent legal status than they would have if they were named in a child arrangements order (CAO) as a person with whom the child is

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Special Guardianship Order definition
What does Special Guardianship Order mean?

A special guardianship order is an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child's special guardian. It has been described as 'a half-way house' between residence orders and adoption orders. The concept of special guardianship relates to the exercise of parental responsibility and not to parenthood.

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