Parents & family life · England
Help with the family court
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This guide is for parents in England.
It explains help with cases about a child’s care.
A letter may say children’s services are thinking about going to court.
Ask for legal advice quickly.
A solicitor gives legal advice.
Show them the letter and any court papers.
Legal aid can pay for a solicitor in some cases.
Ask the solicitor to check the rules for your case.
Ask which dates are important.
Tell your solicitor quickly if you cannot attend a meeting or hearing.
Tell your solicitor how you communicate.
Ask them to tell the court what help you need.
An intermediary helps people communicate in court.
The court decides whether this help is needed.
Having a learning disability does not automatically stop you making decisions about your case.
Ask your solicitor to explain any assessment of this ability.
An advocate can help you explain your wishes.
You still need legal advice from your solicitor.
What you can do next
Contact a solicitor who handles children’s care cases.
Tell them about any hearing date or deadline.
Find a legal adviser Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
These links can help you talk with your solicitor or support worker. More pregnancy and parenting resources are in the “Being a parent with a learning disability” guide.
Find advice and support
Get help about your own case and any deadlines.
- GOV.UK: find a legal adviser Web page
Ask specifically for children’s care proceedings and legal-aid work.
- Family Rights Group: support and advocacy for parents Web page
Information about advocacy and support during child protection and care proceedings.
Booklets about services and court
These are older booklets. Some local names, contacts and procedures have changed. Ask your solicitor to explain what happens in your case.
- Meanings of different Social Services Meetings PDF
Short explanations of meetings. This is an older local booklet: some names and procedures have changed. Ask your worker what your meeting is for.
- When Children, Young People and Families Services are involved PDF
An older Plymouth booklet made with and for parents with learning difficulties. Includes emotional, physical and sexual abuse and neglect. Local contacts and procedures may have changed.
- The Court and your child: when social workers get involved PDFEasy Read
An older booklet using easy words and pictures to explain cases about a child’s care. Ask your solicitor to explain the current process for your case.
- The Official Solicitor — Easy Read PDFEasy Read
An older picture booklet about the Official Solicitor’s role in helping someone conduct a court case. Ask your solicitor whether this applies to your case.
- How to use a solicitor in England and Wales — Easy Read PDFEasy Read
An older Law Society guide to finding and working with a solicitor in England and Wales.
Example letters and plans
Word example documents by Miriam Williams, West Sussex County Council. These are not official blank forms or documents about your own family.
- Example of Letter before Proceedings DownloadWord example document
A Word example by Miriam Williams, West Sussex County Council. It is not a letter about your own family. Show any real letter to your solicitor promptly.
- Example of Care Plan DownloadWord example document
A Word example by Miriam Williams, West Sussex County Council. It shows one way to present a plan; your own plan must reflect your family.
- Example of Danger Statement DownloadWord example document
A Word example by Miriam Williams, West Sussex County Council. It shows how concerns might be explained; it is not an assessment of your family.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Children’s services and the family court
Getting legal advice and communication support when your child’s care is being considered.
Parents in England · Pre-proceedings and care cases
Get help with the letter
A letter before proceedings usually means children’s services are considering asking the court to make orders about your child. This stage is often called pre-proceedings or PLO. It is a chance to discuss concerns and support; it does not guarantee that court will be avoided. Urgent cases may reach court without this stage.
Contact a solicitor promptly
Ask for a solicitor who handles children’s care cases and legal aid. Give them the whole letter or court papers, including dates. Tell them you have a learning disability and what communication help you need. An independent advocate can support your voice and understanding; they do not replace your solicitor’s legal advice or representation.
Ask about legal aid
For formal pre-proceedings, parents and others with parental responsibility can obtain legal-aid help for the process without a financial assessment; show the solicitor the letter. In care or supervision proceedings brought by the council, parents and parties with parental responsibility can receive legal aid without means or merits tests. Other family cases, appeals and applications to end orders have different rules. Ask the solicitor to check your exact case.
Dates matter
Ask for an accessible list of meetings, hearings and deadlines. Contact your solicitor immediately if you cannot attend or need more time; a request does not itself change a deadline. Care proceedings normally work to a 26-week timetable, but the court can allow extensions where necessary. Individual orders and hearing dates still control what you must do next.
Help to take part
Tell your solicitor early about reading, memory, communication or sensory needs. Ask them to raise these with the court. The court must consider whether vulnerability affects participation and whether directions are needed. An intermediary may help communication where appropriate; appointment is not automatic. Ask about clear questions, accessible explanations, breaks and other adjustments suited to you.
Different meanings of capacity
Litigation capacity concerns your ability, with appropriate support, to conduct these particular proceedings. It is a separate question from your ability to parent. A learning disability does not automatically mean you lack litigation capacity. If the court finds you cannot conduct the case, a litigation friend is required. Ask your solicitor to explain this role and how your wishes will be heard.
Understand decisions
Ask your solicitor to explain any proposed agreement before you sign it. Keep copies of orders and ask what each decision means for you and your child. Discuss mistakes or disagreement promptly. A complaint about a service is not an appeal against a court order. Ask for advice on the correct route and any deadline.
Words you could use
“I need advice about my child’s case. Please check legal aid, explain the deadlines, and arrange communication support for me.”
More useful links
These links can help you talk with your solicitor or support worker. More pregnancy and parenting resources are in the “Being a parent with a learning disability” guide.
Find advice and support
Get help about your own case and any deadlines.
- GOV.UK: find a legal adviser Web page
Ask specifically for children’s care proceedings and legal-aid work.
- Family Rights Group: support and advocacy for parents Web page
Information about advocacy and support during child protection and care proceedings.
Booklets about services and court
These are older booklets. Some local names, contacts and procedures have changed. Ask your solicitor to explain what happens in your case.
- Meanings of different Social Services Meetings PDF
Short explanations of meetings. This is an older local booklet: some names and procedures have changed. Ask your worker what your meeting is for.
- When Children, Young People and Families Services are involved PDF
An older Plymouth booklet made with and for parents with learning difficulties. Includes emotional, physical and sexual abuse and neglect. Local contacts and procedures may have changed.
- The Court and your child: when social workers get involved PDFEasy Read
An older booklet using easy words and pictures to explain cases about a child’s care. Ask your solicitor to explain the current process for your case.
- The Official Solicitor — Easy Read PDFEasy Read
An older picture booklet about the Official Solicitor’s role in helping someone conduct a court case. Ask your solicitor whether this applies to your case.
- How to use a solicitor in England and Wales — Easy Read PDFEasy Read
An older Law Society guide to finding and working with a solicitor in England and Wales.
Example letters and plans
Word example documents by Miriam Williams, West Sussex County Council. These are not official blank forms or documents about your own family.
- Example of Letter before Proceedings DownloadWord example document
A Word example by Miriam Williams, West Sussex County Council. It is not a letter about your own family. Show any real letter to your solicitor promptly.
- Example of Care Plan DownloadWord example document
A Word example by Miriam Williams, West Sussex County Council. It shows one way to present a plan; your own plan must reflect your family.
- Example of Danger Statement DownloadWord example document
A Word example by Miriam Williams, West Sussex County Council. It shows how concerns might be explained; it is not an assessment of your family.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 27 October 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- Department for Education: court orders and pre-proceedings Web page
Statutory guidance on pre-proceedings, urgent applications and legal advice after receiving the letter.
- Legal Aid Agency: family scope, June 2026 PDF
Current funding categories and exceptions to financial and merits tests.
- Family Procedure Rules: Practice Direction 12A Web page
The Public Law Outline and case timetable.
- Family Procedure Rules: Part 3A Web page
Participation directions, communication needs and intermediaries.
- Family Procedure Rules: Practice Direction 3AA Web page
Identifying vulnerability and supporting participation.
- Family Procedure Rules: Practice Direction 15B Web page
Litigation capacity and litigation friends.
- GOV.UK: finding a legal adviser Web page
Getting advice and representation from a solicitor.