If Social Services are involved with your family because they have concerns for your child or children, you may receive a ‘Letter before Proceedings’. This is a letter inviting you to attend a meeting which can be referred to as a PLO.
For more information about what to do when you receive this letter please see our blog by clicking below:
If you are a parent or have parental responsibility you will be able to sign a Legal Help form which will allow you to instruct a solicitor and you will not have to pay. Your solicitor can then attend this meeting with you and speak to Social Services on your behalf and put across what you want to say.
If things cannot be resolved at the PLO meeting or Social Services think the risks are too serious they can make an application to Court to begin care proceedings. If you are named on the application or you have parental responsibility you will be able to get Legal Aid. This means that a solicitor can represent you and you will not be charged.
If you believe that you are the biological father to a child but your name is not on their birth certificate, the Court can order a DNA test. If the test then shows you to be the biological father then you will be able to receive Legal Aid funding.
If you are not a parent but you are involved in a child’s life (for example, you have been responsible for the children’s care when the Social Services have become involved or even in some cases accused of potentially hurting the child) Legal Aid is not automatically available. However, an application can still be made on your behalf. This will be ‘means and merits assessed’. This means that the Legal Aid Agency will have to take into account your financial situation and the circumstances of the case to determine if you should be funded by Legal Aid.
With extensive experience in dealing with complex cases, including when Social Services intend to remove children due to allegations of neglect or even harm to a child, Martyn Prowel Solicitors are here to help you. Please do not hesitate to call our offices on 029 20470909.