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Children Law Solicitors

Supporting you and your family when social services are involved – free family law advice and legal aid funding

When your family is facing involvement with social services, it can feel overwhelming, frightening, and deeply personal. Our children law solicitors understand just how emotional these situations can be, and we are here to offer calm, caring guidance every step of the way.

 

We support parents, grandparents, and all family members with a wide range of child protection issues, including care proceedings, child arrangement orders, and any concerns involving social services. No matter how complex or sensitive your situation may feel, you don’t have to face it alone.

 

Reaching out to social care or responding to a social worker can be confusing and stressful. Our experienced children law team takes the time to listen, understand your worries, and explain everything clearly. We work with compassion, patience, and respect, helping you make informed decisions that protect your family’s wellbeing.

 

Our team is part of one of the largest and most respected family law departments in the north of England. Recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading family law firm in Yorkshire, we are also accredited by the Law Society and highly rated by clients on Review Solicitors for our supportive communication and dedication to care.

 

If you’ve been contacted by social services because they have concerns about your child, it is essential that you seek legal advice straight away.

Speak to our team today

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Our Children Law Solicitors Can Support You With:

 

Adoption Solicitors
Care Proceedings Solicitors
Child Abduction Solicitors
Child Arrangement Orders
Social Services Involvement
The Public Law Outline (PLO) Process
Family Law Solicitors
Special Guardianship Order
Grandparents Rights
Family Law Legal Aid
Domestic Abuse
Child Custody & Child Arrangement Order

Advice Guides

What Are Care Proceedings?

Care Proceedings - Step by Step Process

 

If you’re feeling unsure or worried about the costs of getting legal support when a social worker is involved with your family – you’re not alone. Our children law team are here to make things as simple and stress‑free as possible.

 

When you first get in touch with us our children law solicitors will discuss your situation, and:

 

  • Check whether you’re eligible for legal aid and explain it in a clear, down‑to‑earth way.
  • Offer you a free one-to-one with a children law specialist.
  • Support you if you’ve received a Letter Before Proceedings, helping you understand what it means and what happens next.
  • Stand by you in meetings with social care, hearings, and court, making sure you feel supported and never left to face things on your own.
  • Offer sensitive advice if domestic violence or abuse is involved, always putting your safety and well being first.

 

We can also help with private family matters, like child custody (child arrangements) and child maintenance agreements. We know money worries can add to the stress, so we offer free consultations, fixed‑fee options, and clear, upfront costs — no surprises.

 

Whatever your situation, we’re here to listen, guide, and support you with kindness and care.

 

Contact us or call 0114 2496693 for free to discuss your situation. We will be happy to assess you and advise you on your eligibility for legal aid.

 

Social Services Involvement

 

We can help you when social services first contacts you. Whenever possible, we will join you in meetings and represent you in court. We will also help you apply for legal aid if you are eligible.

 

We have experience representing parents and other family members in all sorts of child protection situations which lead to care proceedings. These include cases where social services worry that any children are being neglected. This includes cases where family members are accused of hurting or abusing children.

 

Find out more on how we can help with social service involvement.

 

How Our Children Law Solicitors Can Help

 

Our child law solicitors can help you and your family with any child protection issues related to social services, such as:

 

  • Offering advice at the first instance a social worker contacts you.
  • Represent parents at care proceedings.
  • Deal with child arrangement orders.
  • Explaining your rights where children may have suffered sexual abuse, physical or emotional harm.
  • Advising on parental rights.
  • Offer advice and speak to social care on your behalf when they raise concerns about a child’s safety.
  • Explain your rights and provide advice when a social worker risks taking a child into care.
  • Give advice and support where family members wish to care for a child who is at risk of being taken or has been taken into care.
  • Help applying for special guardianship orders.
  • Advising on grandparent rights.
  • Give advice when social services seeks an Emergency Protection Order.
  • Give advice with cases surrounding non-accidental injuries.
  • Give advice and represent you with other aspects of social care involvement with children, including pre-proceedings (PLO) meetings, child protection conferences and child assessment orders.
  • Give advice when parents or guardians wish to make contact with children in care.
  • Support parents who seek the return of a child in care and the discharging of care orders.
  • Support where children have special needs.
  • Advising parents in cases where the court is being asked to make a Special Guardianship order for their child.
  • Advising parents where they seek the court’s permission to oppose the making of an adoption order.
  • Help applying for a Prohibited Steps Order.

 

Our children law solicitors are supportive, patient, and non‑judgmental specialists. They will guide you through every step of your childcare case, helping to reduce any fear, worry, or uncertainty about the legal process.

 

As experienced social care experts, we will use our experience and legal knowledge to support you and work towards the best possible outcome for your children. We will also explore all available funding options, including Legal Aid, to ensure that quality advice is accessible and affordable.

 

We are also here to offer appropriate help and support in the aftermath of an investigation by a social worker.

 

Contact us or call 0114 2496693 for free to discuss your situation. We will be happy to assess you and advise you on your eligibility for legal aid.

 

Who Can Howells Represent?

 

Parents and carers:

If you have parental responsibility for a child, then it is necessary to obtain professional legal advice the instant social services are in contact with you.

 

Our children law solicitors have years of experience representing parents and family members in complex cases where a social worker is involved, and we have a wide and thorough knowledge of Children Law.

 

Grandparents and other family members: 

If you are concerned about how your grandchild or a child related to you will be cared for and looked after, our children law team can help you. We can help if:

 

  • You wish to be assessed to care for that child.
  • You are caring for a child and are not the biological parent.
  • You have previously cared for that child.
  • Social services has completed a viability assessment of you/your family.
  • You wish to have contact with the child.

 

See more on our grandparents rights page.

 

Although a non-parent is not automatically entitled to Legal Aid, you may still be eligible.

 

Children:

We can provide specialist representation of children of all ages in cases of this nature and are often instructed by Children’s Guardians to represent the interests of children involved in care proceedings.

 

Our children law specialists are skilled in communicating effectively with children and work closely with Children’s Guardians to ensure that proceedings are explained in an age-appropriate way to young clients.

 

Contact us or call 0114 2496693 for free to discuss your situation. We will be happy to assess you and advise you on your eligibility for legal aid.

 

Children and Social Services

 

Social services can become involved with a family for many reasons, including:

 

  • Concerns regarding drug or alcohol issues.
  • Concerns regarding learning difficulties or mental health problems.
  • Concerns relating to injuries.
  • Concerns regarding sexual abuse.

 

When social care become involved with your family it can be a very traumatic and confusing time. We will always listen to you and give tailored, straightforward advice about how we can provide the best possible evidence to the court.

 

If you have been contacted by social services, have been invited to attend a meeting with a social worker or notified that you must attend court, it is vital that you contact us immediately to obtain legal advice and arrange representation.

 

Our experienced team will be able to talk you through the process, advise you of your rights, assess you for legal aid and arrange for one of our team to attend any meetings and represent you at court.

 

Contact us or call 0114 2496693 for free to discuss your situation. We will be happy to assess you and advise you on your eligibility for legal aid.

 

Care Proceedings

 

If social sevices have made an application to take action to protect a child from harm,  this is known as care proceedings.  You should seek representation from a care proceedings solicitor who can review your case and offer advice. A solicitor can also attend a pre proceedings meeting and represent you in court. You may be eligible for legal aid.

 

Contact us or call us on 0114 2496693 to book your appointment today to discuss your situation.

 

Read our comprehensive guide on care proceedings.

 

Special Guardianship Order

 

Special guardianship orders provide stability for a child or young person who cannot be cared for by their parents. Only certain people can apply for a special guardianship order.

 

See more on our special guardianship page.

Children Law Frequently Asked Questions

A social worker is likely to become involved with matters concerning children if they are concerned for a child’s welfare. This can be that the child is regularly missing school, is at risk of violence or the local authority have concerns in respect of your parenting, behaviour or even people you associate with if they pose a risk to the child.

Legal aid provides public funding for legal advice. Parents involved in care proceedings or a PLO meeting automatically qualify for free legal aid. For other children-related cases, eligibility depends on the type of case (scope), your financial situation (means), and whether your case has a reasonable chance of success (merits). Legal aid may cover matters such as care proceedings, contact with a child in care, or changing a care or supervision order. Our children law solicitors can support you in dealing with social services, attending meetings, and representing you in court.

The Children Act 1989 provides the framework for child protection in England. The key principles include the paramount nature of the child’s welfare and the expectations and requirements around duties of care to children.

The basic rights of a child in the UK include but are not limited to:

– The right to life, survival, and development

– The right to a name and nationality

– The right to have their best interests considered and their views respected

– The right to live in a family environment

– The right to education, leisure, culture, and the arts

– The right to health and healthcare

There is no definitive answer as to the age children are able to refuse contact with a parent. Under the Children Act, the wishes and feelings of the child need to be considered in child arrangements disputes, while also considering the child’s age and best interests.

Assistance of a grandparent may deter the Local Authority from issuing Care Proceedings. You can help by caring for children in the short, medium, and long term. You can also become approved kinship foster carers. Grandparents are also able to assist by offering to facilitate and supervise contact between children and their parents. See more on our grandparents rights page.

Care proceedings are legal steps taken by the social services when they believe a child may be at risk of harm and needs protection. A family court will then decide what arrangements are safest and in the child’s best interests.

Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) represents children’s interests in family court cases. They work with children and families, advise the court on what arrangements would keep the child safest, and help ensure the child’s voice is heard.

The Children Law Team

 

The Howells children law team is one of the best in the country and have over 40 years’ experience supporting families. They are ranked high on Review Solicitors where they have a rating of 4.9 out of 5 for their client care. Many of the team are also accredited by the Law Society Children Panel.

The children law team at Howells are often praised by clients for their honesty, compassion, and down to earth approach with their clients, and are excellent at their client care making the process of your case far less stressful.

 

Call us on 0114 249 6693 or contact online

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What Do Our
Clients Say?

"Very professional and polite, extremely informative and helpful I would definitely recommend."

Children Law Client
2024

"Laura helped me and supported me with everything, I will never be able to thank her enough, she was able to guide me through the unknown situation of court with ease and has lifted a weight off my shoulders."

Children Law Client
2025

"Absolutely unreal service did everything I asked for and got me everything I wanted in court 10/10 would recommend to anybody Laura hill is best in the Business."

Care Proceedings Client
2025

"I have been in and out of family court for the last 18 months and Laura's knowledge on the matter and helpful attitude have been invaluable during this time. Her efforts in and out of the courtroom ensured I was successful in my custody battle. I cannot recommend Howells enough to anyone going through family law proceedings, without Laura's help I am doubtful I would have been successful in securing the safety of my children."

Care Proceedings Client
2025

"Amazing service brilliant and professional I highly recommend Howells. They were amazing - professional,and understanding and caring, making their clients voices heard."

Care Proceedings Client
2024

"Thank you for all your support during this case, it is a successful outcome for us all, most importantly the children. It was a battle in the end, but we got there, with your amazing advice and hard work. We truly are grateful.”

Children Law Client
2024

"Thanks for all your ‘spot on’ children’s advice and also the advice which you have given to me over the last 8 months. The letters, statements, position statement were all brilliant. I took your advice which paid off as it taught me there are ways of communication positively without reacting! I came to you anxious, angry and upset and you helped me to minimise this as the case moved forward."

Children Law Client
2023