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Care Order

This is an Order that places your child in the care of a particular Local Authority and gives Parental Responsibility to that authority. This does not mean that you lose Parental Responsibility but it does mean the Local Authority can override your wishes if it believes that it would be better for your child; however they must have consulted you first. For this order to be made your child must be under 17 years old. Once the Care Order is made the Local Authority will decide where your child will live. At some point this may not be back with you. The Local Authority will also be responsible for making sure that they have money to live on.

A full Care Order remains in force until your child is 18 years old unless the Court:

  • makes a Residence Order;
  • ends (discharges) the Care Order when it decides that it should not continue;
  • makes a Supervision Order instead;
  • makes an Order that your child should be placed with adoptive parents without needing your permission;
  • makes an Adoption Order;
  • you can ask the Court to discharge a Care Order. You will have to show the Court that it is in your child’s best interests for the Care Order to be discharged.