Children Act 1989, section 14C

Special guardianship orders: effect

Part II Orders With Respect To Children In Family Proceedings

(1)The effect of a special guardianship order is that while the order remains in force—

(a)a special guardian appointed by the order has parental responsibility for the child in respect of whom it is made; and

(b)subject to any other order in force with respect to the child under this Act, a special guardian is entitled to exercise parental responsibility to the exclusion of any other person with parental responsibility for the child (apart from another special guardian).

(2)Subsection (1) does not affect—

(a)the operation of any enactment or rule of law which requires the consent of more than one person with parental responsibility in a matter affecting the child; or

(b)any rights which a parent of the child has in relation to the child’s adoption or placement for adoption.

(3)While a special guardianship order is in force with respect to a child, no person may—

(a)cause the child to be known by a new surname; or

(b)remove him from the United Kingdom,

without either the written consent of every person who has parental responsibility for the child or the leave of the court.

(4)Subsection (3)(b) does not prevent the removal of a child, for a period of less than three months, by a special guardian of his.

(5)If the child with respect to whom a special guardianship order is in force dies, his special guardian must take reasonable steps to give notice of that fact to—

(a)each parent of the child with parental responsibility; and

(b)each guardian of the child,

but if the child has more than one special guardian, and one of them has taken such steps in relation to a particular parent or guardian, any other special guardian need not do so as respects that parent or guardian.

(6)This section is subject to section 29(7) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002.

Definitions used in section 14C 7

special guardianship order

“special guardian” and “special guardianship order” have the meaning given by section 14A;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
the order

(a) an order under paragraph 1(2)(a) or (b) for the making or securing of periodical payments in favour of more than one child (“the order") is in force;

Defined in Sch.1 para.6(9) · see it in the full Act
special guardian

“special guardian” and “special guardianship order” have the meaning given by section 14A;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
parental responsibility

“parental responsibility” has the meaning given in section 3;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act

(1) In this Act “parental responsibility” means all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property.

Defined in s.3(1) · see it in the full Act
child

16 (1) In this Schedule “child” includes, in any case where an application is made under paragraph 2 or 6 in relation to a person who has reached the age of eighteen, that person.

Defined in Sch.1 para.16(1) · see it in the full Act

“child” means, subject to paragraph 16 of Schedule 1, a person under the age of eighteen;

Defined in s.105(1) · see it in the full Act
parent

(2) In this Schedule, except paragraphs 2 and 15, “parent” includes—

(a) any party to a marriage (whether or not subsisting) in relation to whom the child concerned is a child of the family, and

(b) any civil partner in a civil partnership (whether or not subsisting) in relation to whom the child concerned is a child of the family;

Defined in Sch.1 para.16(2) · see it in the full Act

21 In this Part of this Schedule “parent” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996 . ).

Defined in Sch.3 para.21 · see it in the full Act
the court

(7) For the purposes of this Act “the court” means the High Court or the family court .

Defined in s.92(7) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 14C 16

E (A Child) (Special Guardianship Order: Public Law Proceedings), Re

[2026] EWCA Civ 1167 · 10 September 2026

The effect of an SGO, giving the special guardian parental responsibility exercisable to the exclusion of others with parental responsibility, demonstrated the order’s significant interference with family life. That effect required a necessity and proportionality evaluation. (see paras [71]; [80])

F & G, Re (Discharge of Special Guardianship Order)

[2021] EWCA Civ 622 · 30 April 2021Limits

Interprets the effect of special guardianship: the special guardian has parental responsibility while the order remains, subject to other orders. This supports coexistence with a care order. (see paras [18]; [47]) Limits exclusivity to the exercise of parental responsibility and makes it subject to other orders; a care order therefore overrides exclusive exercise. (see paras [18]; [47]; [64])

M (Special Guardianship Order: Leave To Apply To Discharge) (Rev 1)

[2021] EWCA Civ 442 · 26 March 2021Interprets

The words “subject to any other order” permit a contact order to coexist with a special guardianship order. Enhanced parental responsibility does not make a parent’s contact application an application to vary the SGO requiring leave. (see paras [37]-[38])

What each judgment says about section 14C is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

3 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F221Ss. 14A-14G inserted (30.12.2005) by 2002 c. 38, ss. 115(1), 148 (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(k)

Modifications

  1. C15S. 14C(1)(b) modified (30.12.2005) by 2002 c. 38, ss. 29(7)(a), 148 (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(c)
  2. C16S. 14C(3)(4) excluded (30.12.2005) by 2002 c. 38, ss. 29(7)(b), 148 (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(c)