Children Act 1989, section 5

Appointment of guardians

Part I Introductory

(1)Where an application with respect to a child is made to the court by any individual, the court may by order appoint that individual to be the child’s guardian if—

(a)the child has no parent with parental responsibility for him; or

(b)a [F18parent, guardian or special guardian of the child's was named in a child arrangements order as a person with whom the child was to live andF18] has died while the order was in force [F19; or

(c)paragraph (b) does not apply, and the child’s only or last surviving special guardian dies.F19]

(2)The power conferred by subsection (1) may also be exercised in any family proceedings if the court considers that the order should be made even though no application has been made for it.

(3)A parent who has parental responsibility for his child may appoint another individual to be the child’s guardian in the event of his death.

(4)A guardian of a child may appoint another individual to take his place as the child’s guardian in the event of his death [F20; and a special guardian of a child may appoint another individual to be the child’s guardian in the event of his deathF20] .

(5)An appointment under subsection (3) or (4) shall not have effect unless it is made in writing, is dated and is signed by the person making the appointment or—

(a)M2in the case of an appointment made by a will which is not signed by the testator, is signed at the direction of the testator in accordance with the requirements of section 9 of the Wills Act 1837; or

(b)in any other case, is signed at the direction of the person making the appointment, in his presence and in the presence of two witnesses who each attest the signature.

(6)A person appointed as a child’s guardian under this section shall have parental responsibility for the child concerned.

(7)Where—

(a)on the death of any person making an appointment under subsection (3) or (4), the child concerned has no parent with parental responsibility for him; or

(b)immediately before the death of any person making such an appointment, a [F21child arrangements order was in force in which the person was named as a person with whom the child was to live or the personF21][F22 was the child’s only (or last surviving) special guardianF22] ,

the appointment shall take effect on the death of that person.

(8)Where, on the death of any person making an appointment under subsection (3) or (4)—

(a)the child concerned has a parent with parental responsibility for him; and

(b)subsection (7)(b) does not apply,

the appointment shall take effect when the child no longer has a parent who has parental responsibility for him.

(9)Subsections (1) and (7) do not apply if the [F23child arrangementsF23] order referred to in paragraph (b) of those subsections [F24also namedF24] a surviving parent of the child[F25 as a person with whom the child was to liveF25] .

(10)Nothing in this section shall be taken to prevent an appointment under subsection (3) or (4) being made by two or more persons acting jointly.

(11)Subject to any provision made by rules of court, no court shall exercise the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction to appoint a guardian of the estate of any child.

(12)Where rules of court are made under subsection (11) they may prescribe the circumstances in which, and conditions subject to which, an appointment of such a guardian may be made.

(13)A guardian of a child may only be appointed in accordance with the provisions of this section.

Definitions used in section 5 10

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
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
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
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
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
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
child arrangements order

"child arrangements order " means an order regulating arrangements relating to any of the following—

(a)

with whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact, and

(b)

when a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with any person;

Defined in s.8(1) · see it in the full Act

“child arrangements order” has the meaning given by section 8(1);

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

“family proceedings” has the meaning given by section 8(3);

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

(3) For the purposes of this Act “family proceedings” means any proceedings—

(a)under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court in relation to children; and

(b)under the enactments mentioned in subsection (4),

Defined in s.8(3) · see it in the full Act
guardian of a child

“guardian of a child” means a guardian (other than a guardian of the estate of a child) appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 5;

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

“signed”, in relation to any person, includes the making by that person of his mark;

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

Cases considering section 5 9

E-R (A Child), Re

[2015] EWCA Civ 405 · 24 April 2015Interprets

The mother’s appointment of testamentary guardians was a significant welfare matter but did not create a preferred placement. (see paras [36]; [38]-[39]) The judgment recognised that appointment as a child’s guardian confers parental responsibility, but that status did not itself determine the child’s living arrangements. (see para [37]) With a surviving parent holding parental responsibility and no qualifying child arrangements order, the testamentary appointment did not take effect while the father remained alive. (see para [37]) The appointment of the proposed guardians did not operate during the surviving father’s lifetime because he retained parental responsibility and no relevant child arrangements order was in force. (see para [37])

B (a Child) v RP & Ors

[2000] EWCA Civ 341 · 20 December 2000

The court’s equivalent power to appoint a guardian supported residence and guardianship as an alternative safeguard to adoption. (see para [23]) The father was advised to appoint a guardian under section 5(5) as protection against the consequences of his death. (see para [23]) A residence order in the father’s favour would enable a guardian appointment to take effect on his death notwithstanding the usual parental-responsibility position. (see para [23])

Tony Stacey v Lucy McNicholas

[2022] EWHC 278 (Fam) · 2 November 2022

Applies the power to order a lump sum for liabilities or expenses reasonably incurred before the order and connected with maintaining the child. The court treated pre-payment rent as falling within this jurisdiction when it formed part of the child’s housing provision. (see paras [26], [36]-[39])

What each judgment says about section 5 is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

10 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F18Words in s. 5(1)(b) substituted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 2(2); S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10) this amendment is subject to savings and/or transitional provisions, see the commentary.
  2. F19S. 5(1)(c) and preceding word inserted (30.12.2005) by 2002 c. 38, ss. 115(4)(a)(ii), 148 (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(k)
  3. F20Words in s. 5(4) inserted (30.12.2005) by 2002 c. 38, ss. 115(4)(b), 148 (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/3213, art. 2(k)
  4. F21Words in s. 5(7)(b) substituted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 2(3); S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10) this amendment is subject to savings and/or transitional provisions, see the commentary.
  5. F22Words in s. 5(7) inserted (30.12.2005) by 2002 c. 38, ss. 115(4)(c), 148 (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(k)
  6. F23Words in s. 5(9) substituted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 2(4)(a); S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10) this amendment is subject to savings and/or transitional provisions, see the commentary.
  7. F24Words in s. 5(9) substituted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 2(4)(b); S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10) this amendment is subject to savings and/or transitional provisions, see the commentary.
  8. F25Words in s. 5(9) inserted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 2(4)(c); S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10) this amendment is subject to savings and/or transitional provisions, see the commentary.

Commencement

  1. I5S. 5 (except s. 5(11)(12)) in force at 14.10.1991 by S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2); and s. 5(11)(12) in force at 1.2.1992 by S.I. 1991/828, art. 3 (as amended by S.I. 1991/1990, art. 2)

Marginal citations

  1. M21837 c. 26.