Find what aid is available to kinship carers during family legal proceedings.
Legal aid is available to prospective kinship carers in Public Family Proceedings. Legal aid is also available to kinship carers in public family law children’s cases under the Children Act 1989, and in related proceedings where the kinship carers has been joined as a party to proceedings by the court.
This includes where prospective kinship carers or kinship carers wish to make more permanent arrangements, for example, through a Special Guardianship Order. This is subject to means and merits eligibility assessments.
In private family proceedings, legal aid is available for prospective kinship carers and kinship carers for Special Guardianship Orders. This is also subject to means and merits eligibility assessments.
If a kinship carer wishes to discuss their matter with a legal aid provider and explore their eligibility further, they can us GOV.UK's Find a Legal Aid Adviser or Family Mediator Tool.