How can we help you?

The Law and Childcare

We work closely with children and families where the fundamental question of who they live or spend time with is in discussion.

Covering the South of England including Hampshire, West Sussex, Dorset, and the Isle of Wight, our small, understanding team knows how hard it can be to navigate this emotionally fraught process.

We’re here to provide our legal support and guide you through this complex area.

As a team that includes solicitors that are members of the Law Society’s Children’s Panel, we:

  • Know how families are affected by care proceedings and child arrangements disputes
  • Understand the law including local authority investigations, final hearings, and the appeals process
  • Are available and responsive, making the advice you need available at short notice

Together, our experience and understanding allows us to help you obtain the appropriate support from local agencies and local authorities and resolve residency issues effectively.

We can help with Care Proceedings

When children are subject to child in need or child protection planning, or subject to the public law outline, we give parents and other family members specialist advice.

We also have particular expertise in Private Law

When the Court is asked to make decisions about where a child should live or who they should spend time with, we can represent parents and children directly or via a guardian.

We understand the often sensitive dealing with the most vulnerable clients with mental health issues, learning difficulties, or physical disability.

Cases may include:

  • Care Proceedings
  • Emergency Protection Orders
  • An application for a special guardianship order
  • The Public Law Outline and Children’s Services involvement
  • Prospective adoptions
  • Opposing an adoption order
  • Child Arrangements Orders (Residence and Contact Disputes)
  • Step-parent adoptions

How it works

We have a Legal Aid Contract with the Legal Aid Agency. As a result, we can undertake work pursuant to the Legal Aid Scheme.

This is available to parents and other parties with parental responsibility who are the subject of proceedings by the Local Authority.

All parents / people with parental responsibility involved in care proceedings are entitled to free legal advice.

Private Law

Legal Aid is generally unavailable, but may be available in exceptional circumstances. We’re happy to discuss this with you – don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If funding is not available, we’ll provide detailed estimates of our costs and help you assess your ability to pay privately.

Let us support you in finding an effective resolution.

Call us on 01329823322 or click here to get in touch.

If you have any questions regarding the law in childcare, or to book an initial consultation, please contact one of our specialists below.

  • Kirti Patel
    Kirti PatelEmail Direct

    Kirti qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and has been a Member of the Law Society Children’s Panel since 2000. Since then, she specialised in Family and Children’s Law until setting up The Children’s Legal Practice in 2004.

    Her diverse expertise covers representing children directly or via a guardian, and working with parents and other family members. She also has extensive experience on complex cases involving serious allegations of abuse.

    Beyond work, she enjoys theatre, travel, and spending time with her family.

  • Ruth Leighton
    Ruth LeightonEmail Direct

    Ruth is a Chartered Legal Executive and joined The Children’s Legal Practice in October 2022.

    She specialises in childcare law and has focused in this area since 2017 predominantly advising parents whose children are subject to Children’s Services intervention, both pre-proceedings and throughout care proceedings. She can also assist wider family members, for example providing special guardianship advice.

    Outside of work, Ruth enjoys travelling, scenic walks and socialising with friends.

We couldn’t speak more highly of you and your team and truly appreciated your guidance, professionalism, and down to earth talk (as it can sometimes get quite complicated!) as well as your calmness and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend your services to anyone else in our situation.

“Have already used CLP again in another case and have recommended to individual Guardians particularly in relation to children with additional needs. Sarah Palmer’s expertise and interest in children with additional needs is excellent and a useful resource when representing children. Will be making this point to the team generally at our next team meeting.”

Children's Guardian - JS

“CLP provided straightforward, helpful, and relevant advice. Due to CLP, our daughter is now in a school where she is happy and thrives.”

LW

“CLP were very friendly every time I rang for help. I couldn’t ask for a better solicitor in a very hard situation.”

PK