There are different ways that you may be able to access legal aid if children’s services are involved with your children but have not yet made an application to court. Our solicitors will be able to give you detailed, personal advice based on your circumstances so feel free to contact us for a confidential chat today.
Children’s Services Involvement prior to the pre-proceedings/PLO process
If you want advice from a solicitor because children’s services have become involved with your family at a child in need or child protection level you may be entitled to legal aid. This will be a type of legal aid called legal help and is means tested; this means you must be on a low income or a passported benefit. This level of legal aid covers everything before court proceedings start.
Children’s Services Involvement once they have started the pre-proceedings/PLO process
Legal aid will be available to you automatically if the local authority has told you in writing they are considering issuing court proceedings for a care or supervision order AND you are a parent or a person with parental responsibility for the children the local authority are worried about. If you have been given a copy of a PLO letter/letter before proceedings/pre-proceedings letter then this should be enough for our solicitors to be able to access the correct level of legal help for you. This covers advice as well as us attending meetings with you and means that you can have a lawyer in the meetings with you without it costing you money.
