Become a special guardian

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Apply

You can use a family mediator to help make arrangements with the child’s family to avoid having to apply to the court.

It costs £255 to apply to the court. You may be able to get help with court fees if you’re on benefits or a low income.

Before you apply

Three months before you apply to become a special guardian you need to tell your local council in writing that you plan to make an application.

You also need to tell anyone named in existing court proceedings or orders about the child that you plan to make an application.

Applying to the court

Fill in these forms and send them to your local family court:

Make copies of your completed forms before you send your application to the court. You’ll need to send these copies to each person affected by the application after you apply.

Find your local family court.

If you want to keep your details private

You can apply to keep your and the child’s contact details private throughout the court proceedings.

Fill in ‘Apply to keep your contact details confidential from other parties in family proceedings’ (form C8) and send it with your application.