Everything You Need to Know About Pre-Proceedings
Pre-proceedings are in place to give parents information regarding the local authorities' concerns about their children.
Child welfare is important, and pre-proceedings give parents the chance to work collaboratively with social services to deal with any issues before further action is taken with the court. If you're in a situation where you're trying to prevent action from being taken against you in court, read on to learn everything you need to know about pre-proceedings.
What are Pre-Proceedings?
Pre-proceedings are issued to parents in the UK when the local authority has concerns about their children's welfare. It's important to cooperate at this time and take all the necessary steps to ensure further action isn't taken against you.
The local authority will outline their concerns and what they need to do next - usually starting with a structured plan. Typically, the process of pre-proceedings will start when you receive a letter from local authorities.
However, if situations are out of hand, court proceedings can be issued right away. The main aim of pre-proceedings is to agree on a plan of action to prevent the court from getting involved in the situation.
Have You Received a Letter Before Proceedings?
If you’ve received a letter before proceedings, it means that you have the chance to create a plan to avoid court. In this instance, it shows that there's a chance for you to improve your children's situation - which is regarded better than the court being involved instantly. The letter before proceedings will include:
- The concerns about your children
- The steps that come after receiving the letter
- A plan for the parents
- A guide on how to seek the right legal advice
- An invitation to a pre-proceedings meeting to address concerns
- Where the pre-proceedings meeting will be held
Upon receiving the letter, it’s vital that you, the parent, show dedication to overcoming the situation. Participating in the pre-proceedings meeting and following the plan created to improve your children's welfare is important - showing them that you want to cooperate and prevent anything further from happening.
What Should You Do After Receiving a Pre-Proceedings Letter?
Now that you’ve received your letter before proceedings, you might be wondering what you should do next. If you’re willing to cooperate and deal with the situation at hand accordingly, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible. These types of issues regarding children's welfare shouldn't be taken lightly, and you should have legal support throughout the process.
Here at Bell Lamb & Joynson, we have a team of experienced family solicitors who can guide you through this difficult time while providing all the information you need before the pre-proceedings meeting takes place.
It's normal to be worried about the thought of your children being taken into care - the process of pre-proceedings can be scary, but we're here to support you throughout.
Our dedicated solicitors are highly knowledgeable, having worked with many different families during their careers. A few of our expertise is in pre-proceedings meetings, care proceedings, care orders, and discharge of care orders, to name a few.
What Happens in a Pre-Proceedings Meeting?
It’s helpful to know what you’re going into before attending a pre-proceedings meeting. The duration of a pre-proceedings meeting is broken down into a few stages. During your meeting, you will:
- Discuss the contents of the letter you received with a social worker (while your solicitor assists you)
- Be provided with a pre-proceedings agreement (unless you've been provided with one prior) Have a chance to go through your agreement with your solicitor
- Be given timescales for your childcare plan
- Discuss expectations from you to follow your childcare plan
Once the meeting has occurred, you must follow the given childcare plan accordingly. The plan is usually revised within roughly 6 to 8 weeks. After revising your plan, a decision will be made as to whether or not the court has to be involved.
How Long Does the Pre-Proceedings Process Take?
The pre-proceedings process takes 6 months but can take shorter or longer, depending on the case. The overall process typically includes ongoing meetings with both the local authorities and your chosen solicitor. You should be updated regularly on how much longer the process will take.