Does someone who wants to become a kinship carer for a child need to apply for a Family Court order saying they can care for the child?

There are different types of kinship care arrangements. Not all involve a Family Court order being made. But the type of kinship care arrangement affects:

• What practical and financial support is available to the carer and child
• The extent of support likely to be provided and
• Who has parental responsibility and can make decisions about the child.

It is therefore very important to have the right information and advice about the different options.

It is a good idea to start by looking at our Types of kinship care arrangement section. In that section there is:

• An image and short descriptions describing each different type of kinship care arrangement
• More detailed information and advice about each option.
• Our Types of kinship care arrangement: quick reference table. This can be used to look at and compare all the different kinship care options.

For more information and advice about what is involved in apply for a court order, you may want to:

• Look at the DIY guides on our Advice sheets page. This includes a Step by step explanation on the legal and practical process involved in apply for a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order. They include information about the different costs relating to making an application for an order, and how those can be funded. They include information for anyone who has not been able to get legal aid or solicitor to help them.
  • 2c) DIY special guardianship orders: care proceedings
  • 2d) DIY special guardianship orders: private law proceedings
  • 2f) DIY Child arrangements orders: information for kinship carers.