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Why children are sent to custody, what it's like, visiting, advice and support
Anyone under 18 who is sentenced to custody is sent to a secure centre for…
The child is interviewed by the reception officer as soon as they arrive.…
Time in custody is spent: in education learning skills to get a job or to…
You must arrange your visit first. Contact the secure centre to find out…
For advice or support, a child can speak to a member of staff, for…
Advocacy services are run by children’s charities and are confidential. A…
The Howard League might be able to offer legal advice and help to children…
How to make arrangements for your children if you divorce or separate, mediation and how to apply for a court order if you cannot agree.
You can choose how to make arrangements for looking after your children if…
You do not have to do any official paperwork if you agree about child…
A mediator can help you and your ex-partner agree on child arrangements,…
If you’ve got help and still cannot agree then you’ll need to apply for a…
You can apply online or using a paper form for any of the following: child…
The court will arrange a ‘directions hearing’ with both parents if you…
You can change an existing court order or consent order. You can also ask…
Who has parental responsibility for looking after children, and how to apply for parental responsibility if you were unmarried to the mother or are not on the birth certificate
All mothers and most fathers have legal rights and responsibilities as a…
A mother automatically has parental responsibility for her child from…
If you’re not the mother, you can apply to court to get parental…
What happens when a child is taken into care - who is responsible for what, care proceedings, care orders, going to court and the role of Cafcass
Support and benefits you can get if you're looking after someone else's child, court orders - kinship care, private fostering, friends and family care
How the Youth Custody Service places a young person in custody, and how to question a placement decision.
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