Read the order before challenging the measure
The operative terms identify the nature and duration of the measure, the person or service responsible for it and, in a placement case, contact, overnight stay and correspondence arrangements. The reasons explain which risks the judge accepted and the protection objectives being pursued.
Since 1 December 2025, parents must attend hearings and interviews when summoned by the children's judge. Any inability to attend should therefore be reported and evidenced immediately. Reading checklist: identify every date, obligation, authorised carer and express restriction in the order.
Inspect the file and prepare the parents' case
Parents may ask to inspect the file at the court registry, on the days and at the times fixed by the judge, until the day before the interview or hearing. Their lawyer may inspect it from the opening of the proceedings and obtain copies solely for use in the case, but cannot pass those copies to the parents.
Effective preparation separates accepted facts, disputed matters and developments since the last report. Give priority to dated material about school, health, housing, support already undertaken, contact arrangements, communications with the service and a workable proposal centred on the child.
Exercising parental responsibility during the measure
Parents continue to exercise the aspects of parental responsibility that are compatible with the measure. Placement does not, by itself, terminate parental responsibility. The order must nevertheless be checked to identify which acts may be carried out by the person or service caring for the child.
In practice, decisions about education, healthcare, identity documents, activities and travel should be anticipated. Where a parent unreasonably refuses or neglects a particular decision, the judge may exceptionally authorise the carer to carry out a specified act within parental responsibility if the child's interests require it.
Contact, overnight stays and correspondence
When a child is placed with a third party or service, the parents generally retain rights of correspondence, contact and overnight stay. The judge sets the arrangements and may temporarily suspend them or require contact to be supervised where the child's interests require it.
The order may allow the service and parents to agree some practical details. In that event, times, locations, the adults present and transport arrangements should be recorded clearly. A continuing disagreement can be referred to the children's judge.
Applying for a change or bringing an appeal
A child protection measure may be changed or discharged by the judge at any time, including on the application of either or both parents, where new circumstances justify it. The application should explain what has changed and offer a practical plan instead of merely repeating the original disagreement.
An appeal challenges the order that was made. For a parent, the time limit is fifteen days from notification. Keep the envelope, record the date of receipt and act promptly. An application based on a later change and an appeal alleging error in the original order serve different purposes.
Discuss your situation
You can send the firm the essential facts, relevant dates and any known deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Can the educational service make a lasting change to contact without a new order?
The service organises contact within the terms of the order. A lasting change outside those terms should be referred to the judge; where disagreement continues, ask for the service's position in writing and apply to the judge promptly.
Can parents remain responsible for maintenance costs during placement?
Yes. Parents generally remain responsible for the child's maintenance and education costs, although the judge may relieve them of all or part of that liability.