Child Care Specialists in Leeds
At Cartwright King, we are proud to be a well-respected law firm in Leeds, with a strong reputation spanning a variety of legal sectors. We have been recognised as a Legal 500 law firm due to the high calibre of our solicitors and the depth of their knowledge. And, there is no exception when it comes to matters of child law or advanced family law.
We can provide thoughtful and considered legal advice within tight timeframes; our child care solicitors in Leeds thrive under pressure deadlines, whilst never compromising on the quality of their service. Whether you require support tackling a Care Order or help to obtain a Special Guardianship Order, our team of solicitors have the skills and knowledge to support your requests, providing results as effectively as possible.
From our experience in child law, we know and understand that these cases take their toll on our clients. They often are incredibly traumatic and come with heightened emotions and stress levels. That is why Cartwright King solicitors make themselves available at any time to help take the strain off you and your family. We put you and your child’s welfare at the forefront of our recommendations, exhausting every possibility to get the best result.
We are able to provide legal advice with both in-person at our Leeds office or remotely via telephone conversations or video meetings. Whatever approach suits you our child care solicitors will make themselves available when you need them.
Give our child care solicitors a call today on 0113 887 7229 or submit an online enquiry form to arrange for your FREE, no-obligation telephone consultation today.
How Cartwright King’s Solicitors can help
Regardless of your childcare-related concerns, our child care solicitors have an extensive track record resolving a wide range of matters, including:
Child Care Proceedings and Hearings
A child care proceeding progresses to a ‘public law’ case in court when all previous attempts in the Public Law Outline procedure have proven unsuccessful. Our child care solicitors in Leeds can step in and assist you through the hearings that will follow.
- Case Management Hearing – the first step in the process is an introductory hearing. The meeting aims to lay out how and when the remainder of the case will be decided.
- Contested Removal Hearing – if the local authority’s social services department has expressed their wish to remove a child from their home environment, you have the right to appeal this decision. Our solicitors will represent you, expressing evidential support to strengthen your case about why your child should remain at home. This hearing aims to resolve the dispute over where your child will reside for the remainder of the case.
- Issues Resolution Hearing – your child care solicitor will gather and present more evidence to help offer a solution as to what the next steps should be. All parties will have the opportunity to state their opinion through their legal representation. If additional issues surrounding your child’s care have been raised, this hearing will attempt to resolve them. All necessary requirements will be adhered to ensure you have the best possible chance of a successful result.
- Final Hearing – if the Issues Resolution Hearing cannot come to a decision, a Final Hearing will go ahead. This gives your solicitor the chance to present your evidence again so a Judge can make a conclusive decision.
Get Your Free Initial Consultation Today
Choosing and appointing a child care solicitor is a vital step in your legal proceedings. In order to have the best possible chance of achieving a favourable result, you need to have a good rapport with your solicitor. At the heart of this relationship must be trust. At Cartwright King, we understand this importance and, therefore, offer all potential clients the chance to speak to our solicitors before they make a decision.
Within your FREE introductory, no-obligation telephone conversation, we will:
- Ask for more information about you and your case
- Gain an understanding of your childcare position
- Touch upon the options available to you
Your call is treated with discretion and confidentiality and, of course, is completely free of charge. We want you to use this call as an opportunity to see if our professional child care solicitors are right for you. Don’t worry if not, there is no obligation to appoint our expertise.
*Please remember this call will not include any legal advice or strategy. It is, instead, a good-will “get to know you” conversation.
Why Choose Cartwright King’s Child Care Solicitors?
We pride ourselves on being there for you throughout your proceedings. At Cartwright King, we know and understand how important confidentiality is in these sensitive cases. Therefore, regardless of why you require our assistance, we will always conduct ourselves professionally. All legal advice and representation are given without judgement and with complete respect.
Our experience and ability to manage your child care case has been accredited by the Law Society, recognising Cartwright King as a Legal 500 firm. Our child care solicitors in Leeds are able to give you a voice in your proceedings, helping you to cut through the legal jargon to understand exactly what is happening at all stages of the process. Known for their start to finish service, you will have access to consistent representation throughout your entire case. No matter what you need, we can support you in all aspects of your child care proceedings.
Our Child Care Solicitor Rates
With a child’s stability hanging in the balance, we feel everyone should have access to quality legal advice in child care cases. At Cartwright King, we have a competitive yet open pricing structure for our soliciting services, with no hidden fees.
Our Leeds Office
Our Leeds office is located at Ground Floor, St. Paul’s House, 23 Park Square South, Leeds, LS1 2ND
Parking Facilities
We, unfortunately, do not have parking facilities on-site at our Leeds office; but, there is on-street pay-and-display parking on the surrounding roads. It is worth trying St Paul’s Street, Little Queen Street and Queen Street by Carlton Tower. If there are no spaces here, there is a car park outside the train station and a large multi-storey car park only a five-minute walk away.
By Train
When arriving in Leeds by train, our office is located just a 7-minute walk away. The route to follow is > Wellington Street > City Square > Quebec Street > Park Place > Central Street > St Paul’s Place. You will then turn left on Park Square.
By Bus
You can also visit our office using Leed’s extensive range of buses. With stops located minutes away on Wellington Street, Westgate and Infirmary Street, there are plenty of options to choose from.
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Frequently asked questions.
What types of orders can the Local Authorities apply for?
When the Local Authorities have concerns regarding a child’s care and welfare, they can insist on a pre-proceedings meeting to discuss all their identified issues with the child’s parents or guardians. If the pre-proceedings process is unable to provide a satisfactory resolution to their concerns, the case will progress to court. At this stage, the social services department will inform the court of one of the following orders to accompany the case:
- A Supervision Order – implemented for 12 months, this order states that the social services will advise, assist and support the family in matters concerning the care of the child. The child is allowed to reside with their parents/guardians at their home address, but the situation will be monitored. It is possible for this order to be extended for a further two years if the Local Authority deems it necessary.
- A Special Guardianship Order – under this ruling, the social services will suggest the child is removed from their home environment and placed with a Special Guardian. These guardians will normally be known family members who take on the parental responsibility of the child, making decisions regarding their welfare.
- A Care Order – in more extreme circumstances, when a child has come to harm or is in danger of harm, they will be removed from the home and placed with a foster family or family member. The parental responsibility for the child’s health, education and welfare will be passed to the Local Authority; although, the child’s parents will retain some parental rights.
- A Placement Order – when a Care Order has been ruled, a Placement Order will follow. This order starts the adoption process if the court agrees with the decision to remove the child from their home address.
- An Interim Care Order – most child care proceedings end with a temporary order. This arrangement allows the courts to gather more information and carry out certain assessments, to help the Judge to make a final ruling.
- An Interim Supervision Order – when a child is deemed safe to remain at home during the duration of the child care proceedings, an interim supervision order is implemented. During this period, the Local Authority will work with the family, offering support while the court case is ongoing.
- Police Protection Powers – the police have the authority to remove a child from their home environment for 72 hours if they are deemed at immediate risk. Police protective powers can be carried out without warning as the child’s safety is prioritised. In extreme cases, this order can be extended for a further eight days. If the Local Authority is still concerned they can apply for an Emergency Protection Order or Interim Care Order.
- Emergency Protection Orders – these orders are only used in emergencies, removing a child from their family home when they are at risk of significant harm. An Emergency Protection Order is implemented for eight days, with the possibility of a further week-long extension.
Can the Local Authorities place my child for adoption against my wishes?
The Local Authorities can only place your child up for adoption with a Court Order. During this process, the child’s parents will have every opportunity to stand up to contest this decision. If social services wish to take this action, you will receive written notification and will have the opportunity to gain legal representation. Your child care solicitor will be able to advise you throughout the process to fight this decision appropriately.
Do children have a say in child care proceedings?
During all child care proceedings, the child’s welfare remains at the heart of the case. Whilst your child care solicitor will be able to include your child’s wishes within their case, due to their age, the court cannot make a ruling entirely on your child’s opinion.
If your proceedings include The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), steps were taken to include children in the process more in 2014. However, certain conditions need to be met. For example, children must be over the age of 10 and will speak to the Judge in a separate hearing, away from the rest of the case. Their opinion will then be included with all the factors that have been raised by the solicitors.
Can I request my social worker to be changed?
As long as it is deemed appropriate, you can request to change your social worker; however, there are limitations to a Local Authorities resource, so it may not be a possible request. If you wish to change your social worker, our solicitors can talk you through the problems and make the request on your behalf if your feelings remain.
Can I get my child back if it has been taken away from me by the social services?
It is possible to appeal a court’s decision at the end of your Public Law case. When Care Orders are ruled, your next step would be to apply to discharge this order.
Every case is different, and while there are some cases where children do not return to their family home, there are many others that do. Again, your solicitor can support you during this process, giving you the best opportunity to keep your child at home.
What rights do grandparents have in child care proceedings?
You may be surprised to learn that grandparents do not instantly gain parental rights for a grandchild. Regardless of the familial links, any grandparents looking to gain this responsibility will need to make an application with the child’s parents’ consent.
When an application of ‘leave’ is made, the court will decide in line with the Children Act 1989 welfare checklist whether to approve. In situations where the grandchildren already reside with their grandparents, applications are more likely to be granted.
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