Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
(CAFCASS)
The statutory body that safeguards and promotes the welfare of children in family court proceedings in England. Provides advice to the court on what is safe for children and in their best interests. Includes the Children's Guardian role in public law cases and welfare reports in private law cases.
CAFCASS officers attend Family Court hearings to give independent expert evidence about the welfare of children. In public law (care, supervision, placement orders) they act as Children's Guardian, taking the child's interests forward in proceedings. In private law (child arrangements after divorce or separation) they prepare safeguarding letters and section 7 welfare reports. CAFCASS is funded by the Ministry of Justice and operates independently of social services and the family courts. CAFCASS Cymru is the Welsh equivalent.
Related terms
Related guides
Child Arrangements Orders
A Child Arrangements Order (CAO) is a court order setting out the arrangements for where a child lives and how much time they spend with each parent or other person. They replaced the old residence and contact orders in 2014. The family court encourages parents to agree arrangements without court intervention, and before making an application you must attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) in most cases. The court's primary concern in every case is the welfare of the child.
10 min
Care Proceedings: When the Council Applies to Take a Child into Care
When social services decide a child is at risk, they can apply to the court for a Care Order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989. The process is fast (26 weeks), the consequences are profound, and you have strong rights — including non-means-tested legal aid. This guide explains the threshold test, the proceedings, the orders the court can make, and the practical steps that affect outcomes.
11 min