Children law solicitors London
At Hopkin Murray Beskine, our child care solicitors have extensive experience in resolving disputes involving children sensitively and constructively.
We represent parents, extended family members, children’s guardians and children. Our care team specialises in representing vulnerable clients, including those who have mental health or learning difficulties and we always adopt a child centred approach.
We can assist in cases involving adoption, care proceedings, supervision orders, special guardianship and social services.
Urgent action required?
If you are concerned that your child is at immediate risk, we can offer urgent appointments and take emergency steps to assist you and your child. Public funding might be available for such actions and we can provide you with information in relation to the funding options for your case.
Funding
If you are a parent, or a carer with parental responsibility for a child, and you are involved in public law care proceedings you will get public funding automatically and you will not have to pay anything towards your legal fees.
If you are anyone else, your eligibility for public funding will depend on your financial circumstances and the merits of your case.
We will carry out an assessment to see whether or not you are eligible for public funding, and will advise you in relation to other ways of funding your case if you do not qualify for free legal advice.
“If you are a parent, or a carer with parental responsibility for a child, and you are involved in public law care proceedings you will get public funding automatically…”
Services
Adoption
Our solicitors specialise in all aspects of adoption work, including step-parent and international adoptions. We advise on the duties and responsibilities of Local Authorities or other adoption agencies, assist prospective adopters who are adopting in the UK Courts or seeking to take a child they wish to adopt overseas, and advise parents or step parents who wish to bring a child into the UK.
We also assist parties in the adoption process where the law fails to recognise one party as a legal parent, such as for a step-child or a child conceived through assisted reproduction.
Our solicitors can also advise you if you wish to oppose the adoption of your child, or if you want advice in relation to contact with a child that is likely to be adopted.
Care proceedings
We provide expert legal advice and representation to families when local authorities start care proceedings due to concerns about a child’s safety or well-being. If child care proceedings are already underway our team of specialist lawyers can offer urgent appointments.
Our care team often represent guardians and children in care proceedings. We act for children enabling their voice to be heard within proceedings separately from their parents. The guardian will make recommendations to the court according to what is in the child’s best interest at every stage of proceedings.
Our lawyers are skilled advocates who adopt a sensitive, child-centred approach in all cases.
Grandparents’ Rights
We represent grandparents, and other extended family members, in care proceedings. We regularly provide advice in relation to assessments and court orders. We also provide assistance in applying to court, whether for a child arrangements order, special guardianship order or other appropriate order.
About our child law solicitors
Our child care solicitors comprise a director, Sara Upton and solicitors, Celene Boatswain and Helen MacDonald. We are supported by a team of trainee solicitors and paralegals.
All of our senior child care solicitors are members of the Children Panel and accredited by the Law Society as specialists within this area.
We have a London wide reputation for our effective, sensitive, and child centred work in this area.
Our children law solicitors are based in Islington, London
Hopkin Murray Beskine’s office is easy to reach from across London and Hertfordshire.
Office address:
The Ivories,
Unit 17,
6 – 18 Northampton Street,
London, N1 2HY.
Social Services / Children’s Services
Social Services or Children’s Services can become involved with a family if they believe there are parenting concerns which could cause a child physical or emotional harm. It is crucial to seek immediate legal advice if social services indicate they have concerns, to get independent guidance from the outset. Our lawyers can offer expert legal advice to help you understand the situation that you are in and consider your options before and during any court proceedings.