Special Guardianship Court Timetables CA 1989 s. 14E
CA 1989 s. 14E requires courts to set timetables without delay for special guardianship proceedings and allows orders to apply for a specified period.
14E In proceedings in which any question of making, varying or discharging a special guardianship order arises, the court shall (in the light of any provision in rules of court that is of the kind mentioned in section 11(2)(a) or (b — draw up a timetable with a view to determining the question without delay; and give such directions as it considers appropriate for the purpose of ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the timetable is adhered to. Subsection (1) applies also in relation to proceedings in which any other question with respect to a special guardianship order arises. The power to make rules in subsection (2) of section 11 applies for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that. A special guardianship order, or an order varying one, may contain provisions which are to have effect for a specified period. Section 11(7) (apart from paragraph (c applies in relation to special guardianship orders and orders varying them as it applies in relation to section 8 orders.
Text in force at .
Source: legislation.gov.uk — The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk), reproduced under licence Open Government Licence v3.0.
What it actually says
Section 14E requires family courts to draw up a timetable and issue directions to avoid delay whenever a court considers making, varying, or discharging a special guardianship order. This duty extends to any other court question regarding special guardianship orders.
The court may include provisions in a special guardianship order, or an order varying one, that remain in effect for a specified period.
This section also applies section 11(7) (excluding paragraph c) to special guardianship orders in the same way it applies to section 8 orders, enabling conditions and duration directions to be attached to the order.
When it applies
- A judge setting strict deadlines for filing assessments to prevent delay during a special guardianship application.
- A court giving procedural directions to keep hearings on schedule when a birth parent applies to discharge a special guardianship order.
- A judge issuing a special guardianship order with specific terms designed to expire after a defined time frame.
What this section does not say
- Who is eligible to apply for a special guardianship order.
- The baseline legal status and parental responsibility granted to a special guardian.
- Local authority obligations to provide support services or financial support to special guardians.
Related sections
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This page reproduces the text of CA 1989 s. 14E in force at the date shown and explains it in general terms. It is not legal advice and takes no account of the circumstances of your case, which can change the answer completely. For a live dispute, for limitation periods, and before taking any step in court, consult a qualified lawyer in England and Wales.