Become a special guardian
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:
- an ‘Application for an order’ (form C1)
- a supporting statement (form C13A)
- a ‘Family mediation information and assessment meeting’ form (FM1) to show you’ve been through mediation or why you could not go
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.