Jargonbuster - Prohibited Steps Order

An order that no step which could be taken by a parent in meeting his or her parental responsibility for a child, and which is of a kind specified in the order, shall be taken by any person without the consent of the court. 

 

Parents, guardians or holders of a residence order (“lives with” child arrangement order) can apply for a prohibited steps order under S8 of the Children Act 1989 with the only exception to this rule arising if the child is 16 years old or over or if the child is currently in the care of a Local Authority. 

 

Courts set the duration that the prohibited steps order is to last with time frames varying from case to case, so it is important that you fully understand how long the order is to remain in place. 

 

Normally, the court will impose a duration that they feel serves the best interests of the child or children in question. This can range from several months to many years. 

However, a prohibited steps order will usually remain in force until further order although it will end by the time that the child or children reach their 18th birthdays. It is not possible for a prohibited steps order to remain in place after this milestone as the child is then considered to be an adult in the eyes of the law.