{"id":101,"date":"2025-12-05T06:18:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T06:18:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/courts\/?page_id=101"},"modified":"2025-12-17T07:23:05","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T07:23:05","slug":"special-guardianship","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/courts\/courts\/family\/special-guardianship\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Guardianship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Courts<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Family Proceedings<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Special Guardianship<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n
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Special Guardianship<\/h1><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What is special guardianship?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A special guardianship order appoints one or more people as special guardians of a child.  The order lasts until the child is 18 (unless it is changed or cancelled before then).  The special guardian has parental responsibility for the child and can take most decisions about the child (such as where the child will live or go to school) without having to consult anyone else.  The special guardian cannot change the child\u2019s surname or take them abroad for more than three months without the agreement of anyone else with parental responsibility or the permission of the court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Why is it different from adoption?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When a child is adopted he or she becomes part of their \u2018new\u2019 adoptive family and all legal ties with their birth family are cut.  The natural parents lose their parental responsibility and the adoption order cannot, except in extremely rare situations, be varied (changed) or discharged (ended).  Adoption may not always be the most suitable solution for some children.  They may, perhaps because of their age or cultural background, not want to be adopted but would benefit from a permanent, legally secure placement with a long-term carer other than their parent.  Special Guardianship can meet these needs.  Unlike an adoption, children who are the subject of a special guardianship order keep ties with their birth family, although the family\u2019s rights and responsibilities are reduced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Who can apply to be a special guardian?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n