Can a special guardianship order be varied or discharged?

Special guardianship orders terminate when the young person reaches the age of 18.

Unlike adoption orders, special guardianship orders can be varied or discharged before the young person reaches the age of 18.This will happen if the circumstances surrounding the order have significantly changed.

It is possible to apply to the court to vary or discharge the order if;

• You are the special guardian;
• You are the local authority named in a care order relating to the child before the special guardianship order was made;
• You have a residence order in your favour which relates to the child before the special guardianship order was made.

If you are the child, parent, step-parent who has acquired parental responsibility, a guardian, or any individual who had parental responsibility before the making of the special guardianship order but no longer has it or any other with parental responsibility and you wish to vary or terminate the existing special guardianship order, you will need to:

First get the permission of the court; and

Secondly show a change of circumstance since the making of the special guardianship order.