Special Guardianship Orders - their use and role

The President of the Family Division of the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, Sir Andrew McFarlane has considered the role and nature of Special Guardianship Orders (SGO).

Special Guardianship Orders are used to give a special guardian legal responsibility for a child without removing legal responsibility from the birth parents. The are used in private law cases.

The family court deal with various disputes including private law cases brought by private individuals, generally in connection with divorce or the parents’ separation.

Sir Andrew McFarlane stated: “For a considerable time those working in Family Justice have called for consistent and clear practice guidance on SGO’s. Now, through the work of the Public Law Working Group, the Family Justice Council and others, comprehensive and authoritative guidance has been produced. I am immensely appreciative of the work that I know has been done by many over the past year to produce this guidance and I have no hesitation in publishing it now with my complete endorsement”.

You can read more about SGOs at the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website by clicking this link.