s/g/o do you need more than 1 name on application

[divadi2000]

For a s/g/o is it ok just to put my name on letter of intention or are you meant to put another persons name on in the event of anything happening to me? also can you put more than one 2 names on for example my oldest son lives in Australia could i put his name on as he would be an excellent s/g and if asked he would be happy to add name thanks x

[David Roth]

It would be normal for both partners or spouses who are living as a couple to apply for special guardianship together. It is possible for only one to apply, but that would need to be explained in the special guardianship report, as the expectation would be that the children would be going into a household where both partners/parents would be sharing the responsibility for raising them.

However, you would not normally add the names of anyone who is not a household member. Special guardianship does however allow you to name in your will who should become the children's guardian in the event of you and your spouse/partner's death.

David R
FRG Policy Adviser

[David Roth]

divadi, the special guardianship report would usually cover the question of what happens to children in the event of the death of the special guardian. The assessing worker would probably be quite pleased to hear that you had thought about this already, and discussed the possibility with your son, although the worker may wonder about whether moving to Australia would be the right thing for the children. It would help if the children already knew your son and had visited him there, if the plan was for them to join him there, and not for him to come to the UK to look after them. But moving to Australia could be a big upheaval for them, particularly if they have just lost you, and if they don't know your son well.

David R
FRG Policy Adviser