Assumption: "(Wardship / Child's Own Application) Court applications about where a child should live are only something a parent can bring; a child themselves has no route to ask the court directly."
1 min readThis content reflects observational insights and lived community experiences. It does not constitute legal advice — always consult a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.
What People Expect
A parent or professional may assume that court applications about where a child should live can only be brought by a parent, and that a child has no route to ask the court directly.
Court Reality
A child assessed as competent to give instructions can, with the court's permission, bring their own application, instructing a solicitor directly without a litigation friend, seeking orders that restrict what their parents can do, including preventing removal from the country. This is unusual but recognised.
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The Gap?
"(Wardship / Child's Own Application) Court applications about where a child should live are only something a parent can bring; a child themselves has no route to ask the court directly."
Court Reality
A child assessed as competent to give instructions can, with the court's permission, bring their own application, instructing a solicitor directly without a litigation friend, seeking orders that restrict what their parents can do, including preventing removal from the country. This is unusual but recognised.
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