How to contact us for advice
We provide advice to parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and kinship carers who are involved with children’s services in England or need their help. We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.
Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.
To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). For Textphone dial 18001 followed by the advice line number. Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.
Our online advice forums are an anonymous space where parents and kinship carers (also known as family and friends carers) can get legal and practical advice, build a support network and learn from other people’s experiences.
Our get help and advice section describes the processes that you and your family are likely to go through, so that you know what to expect. Our webchat service can help you find the information and advice on our website which will help you understand the law and your rights.
In private law proceedings, the first court hearing is called the ‘First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment’. This hearing should take place between 4-6 weeks of the date of the application being issued. The court will not make a final decision at the first hearing. It will give directions about how the case should be prepared for the final hearing. This will include what evidence and reports the court will need to make its decision. It may also make interim (temporary) decisions at this hearing as to where a child should live between that hearing and the final hearing.
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