Child Law Solicitors in Stoke-on-Trent

If social services have become involved with your family, or you are worried they might do, early, clear advice is essential. Our child law solicitors in Stoke-on-Trent provide practical guidance and strong representation across all stages of public law children matters, from PLO meetings through to care and adoption proceedings.

We act for children, parents and others with parental responsibility, as well as family members and carers seeking to secure a child’s long-term arrangements.

Located in Hanley and serving clients throughout Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, we provide tailored support to meet individual needs. Our services include assistance for individuals with learning difficulties and those for whom English is not their first language. We will agree a strategy and keep you informed at every step.

How we can help you

• Care and supervision proceedings – Representation for children, parents, or anyone with parental responsibility throughout care proceedings, including interim hearings, fact-finding and final hearings. We also act for intervenors who are joined to proceedings to address specific issues.
• PLO (pre-proceedings) support – Advice and representation at PLO meetings and throughout the pre-proceedings process. We review the local authority’s concerns, help you engage with assessments and support plans, and work to avoid court where possible.
• Discharge of care orders – Strategic advice and applications to discharge care orders where the legal test and evidence support a return to parental care, or a change in the care plan. We prepare evidence and liaise with professionals while representing you at each stage.
• Contact with a child in care – Advice and applications about contact with a child in care, including seeking increased, supervised or unsupervised contact, resolving disputes with the local authority, and representation at court if agreement cannot be reached.
• Adoption (challenging placement/adoption orders) – Specialist representation for parents seeking to challenge placement or adoption orders. We advise on prospects, evidence and timescales, and ensure the court fully considers alternatives within the child’s best interests framework.
• Special Guardianship Orders (SGO) – Clear advice for prospective special guardians, including current carers and family members (e.g., grandparents). We explain assessments and the range of orders available, while also discussing support packages and challenging negative assessments where appropriate. Our team can advise on legal aid eligibility and funding routes.

Why choose Smith Partnership?

You will receive clear advice, meticulous preparation and focused representation from a team experienced in complex public law children cases. Our Claire Morrey, Senior Associate, holds the Children’s Law Accreditation, and specialises in representing children and guardians in legal matters.

Our Stoke solicitors at Smith Partnership work closely with interpreters and support services where needed, while setting out costs and legal aid options from the start. Our priority is to secure safe, workable arrangements for children while protecting your rights throughout the process.