Special guardianship orders — when relatives or foster carers raise a child long-term
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-28
What a special guardianship order (SGO) is
An SGO appoints one or more people as a child's special guardian until the child turns 18. It sits between a child arrangements order (shared day-to-day care) and adoption: the special guardian gets overriding parental responsibility — they can make nearly every decision about the child without needing the parents' agreement — while the child keeps a legal relationship with their birth family (inheritance rights, birth certificate unchanged).
Who applies
Mostly grandparents, other relatives, foster carers caring for a child who cannot live with their parents. The child must have lived with the applicant for at least 1 year (or be a foster carer approved for 1 year) before applying; other routes need the court's permission.
The process
1. Notify the local authority in writing, at least 3 months before applying — the council must then investigate and produce a special guardianship report for the court 2. Apply for the SGO (court forms; no fee) 3. The court holds a hearing and makes the order if it serves the child's welfare
Support for special guardians
The local authority must assess whether special guardians need support services — financial allowances (means-tested, similar to fostering allowances), training, therapy for the child. Ask the council for a support assessment when you notify them; challenge refusals.
How it fits your family court case
- Parents can oppose an SGO — the welfare checklist and the child's settled arrangements drive the decision
- An SGO can end ongoing care proceedings (often the plan for relatives stepping in)
- After an SGO, parents can't apply for contact or residence orders without leave — stability is the point
Official links
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-guardianship-guidance
- https://www.gov.uk/looking-after-children-divorce
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS or gov.uk.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.