2009 Welfare Reform There are quite specific pieces of guidance in the 2009 Welfare Reform legislation which outline what is meant by parental responsibility. Section 4 of the Children Act 1989…

School Admission Process Children between the age of 5 and 16 in England are entitled to a free place at a state school and although parents can choose which school…

Surrogate Parents Throughout the world there are countless couples who are struggling to conceive. Using surrogate parents is sometimes a viable option for those who wish to raise a family….

Special Guardianship Orders When the Children Act 1989 was amended through the Adoption and Children Act 2002, a series of new provisions were introduced. One of these included a Special…

Child Maintenance Travel Disqualification The issue of child maintenance can be a contentious area. When a relationship breaks down and parents go their separate ways, a number of disputes may…

Child Abduction: Prevention Child abduction can be either a criminal or a civil offence depending on the specific circumstances of each case. Child Abduction in Criminal Law Under Section 1(1)…

Child Assessment Orders Child Assessment Orders are used in situations where the local authority must intervene as part of a safeguarding process. These orders are usually applied when an investigation…

Child Welfare The Courts consider child welfare to be of paramount concern. Child welfare should be at the forefront of any decisions made by the court. There are many different scenarios which…

Private Law Orders Issued to Protect Children In terms of private law orders, there are three principles outlined in Section 1 of the Children Act 1989. The first is that…

Drugs in Schools Schools in England and Wales often have a zero tolerance approach to drugs in schools and students are educated about the dangers of substance abuse as part…