Dictionary of Family Court Words - A

C

Cafcass Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service - an service which is not part of the courts, social services, education and health authorities that looks af ter the in ter ests of children involved in family court cases and provides information and advice to the Judge, families and children in Court proceedings

Capacity Able to do something (e.g. a person being able to make decisions about your own life)

Care Order the order from a court that allows the Local Authority (Children's Services) to become another parent for the child and take decisions about what should happen in the child's life

Care Plan a document saying what plans Children's Services have for the child in the future

Case Management Conference A meeting at Court to decide what happens next

Centile Chart A chart which shows the height and weight of a child and also has details of the average heights and weights of all children so that they can be compared

Child Little person under the age of 18

Child Abduction When a child is taken away without permission, sometimes abroad

Child Assessment Order When the Court asks for a report on the child's health and happiness

Child Permanence Record Document setting out decision taken about a child's long ter m future

Child Protection Keeping children safe

Child Protection Conference An important meeting between parents and professionals (eg. social workers, teachers, health visitors, doctors) who are worried about a child's safety. At the meeting the professionals will decide a plan to keep the child safe

Child Protection Plan The document that lists the Social Workers' plans for a child

Child Protection Register A list of families who need support to keep children safe

Child Support Agency (CSA) A government agency used to collect money from a parent who is not living with a child to give to the other so they can buy things for the child

Children Act 1989 The law that sets out how children's welfare should be decided

Children's Guardian Someone who is independent and is appointed by the court. They advise the court what is best for the child and also tells the Court what the child wants to happen. They are usually employed by Cafcass

Children's Services A group of people whose job it is to make sure the safety of children and who support children and their families. They are called social workers and work for the Local Authority

Circuit Judge A Judge who sits in the County Court hearing Family cases, and who sometimes hears Criminal cases too.

Clean Break Final share of money when you get divorced, where there is no maintenance being paid. Everything is sorted out once and forever.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy This is a therapy that helps solve problems in people's lives, such as anxiety and depression

Committal to Prison Sending to Prison

Concerns Problems which may need looking into

Conciliation Discussions to try to reach agreement (problem solving)

Conciliation Appointment A meeting at Court with a Judge to see if the parents can agree about their children

Consent Agreement

Contact Seeing the child

Contact Centre Place where parents can see their children

Contact Order A legal decision by the Judge to say who can see the child, when and where

Core Assessment A way of finding out what you are good at and where you need help in looking after a child(ren)

Core Group Group of people important in the life of the family and its members who meet to discuss and decide things

Counsel Barrister - A lawyer who represents a person in Court

Counselling Talking to someone about something that worries you

County Council Different departments made up of people who run lots of services like schools, children's services, libraries etc

County Court A place where a Judge will listen to you and other people and will decide what is best for your child

Court Bundle Papers about the case. Papers that the Court needs

Criminal Proceedings Going to Court when the Police think you have done something wrong

PHR Solicitors family and divorce solicitors have a wide range of experience dealing with many different types of family dispute. They have helped hundreds of clients to resolve family - related issues; whether it's divorce and separation issues, child care, civil partnership or complex cohabitation issues.

In addition PHR Solicitors hold a legal aid franchise for family matters. This means that public funding may be available to fund your case.

All of our qualified family and divorce solicitors are members of Resolution (formerly Solicitors Family Law Association).

PHR Solicitors would like to thank Cumbria Local Family Justice Council for allowing the use of the contents of the Family Law Dictionary.