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Public law children proceedings deadline calculator

Section 32(1)(a) of the Children Act 1989 sets 26 weeks from issue for care and supervision proceedings, and the Public Law Outline hangs a case management timetable off that same start date. Extensions are possible but must be justified case by case.

England & Wales ยท Deemed service, clear days and bank holidays applied ยท Methodology

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Not legal adviceRules reviewed June 2026Result shows its citation and workingCheck the current rule, any order and the facts before diary use

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Cited to the rule

Deadlines this calculator covers

36 encoded deadlines, each cited to its rule.

Care or supervision proceedings to be disposed of within 26 weeksChildren Act 1989, s 32(1)(a)(ii)

182 days from The day on which the Part 4 application was issued

Maximum length of each extension of the 26 week limitChildren Act 1989, s 32(8)(a)-(b)

56 days from The later of the end of the period being extended and the end of the day on which the extension is granted

Stage 1: allocation, standard directions and service by the local authority (Day 2)FPR 2010 PD12A, Public Law Outline table, Stage 1, Day 2

1 day from Issue of the Part 4 application

Appointment of the children's guardianFPR 2010, r 12.6(a)

1 day from Issue of Part 4 proceedings, or transfer of Part 4 proceedings to the court

Advocates' meeting before the Case Management HearingFPR 2010 PD12A, Public Law Outline table, Stage 2 (Advocates' Meeting); FPR r 12.26

2 days before Date listed for the Case Management Hearing

Local authority to file draft Case Management Order before the CMH or FCMHFPR 2010 PD12A, Public Law Outline table, Stage 2

1 day before Date listed for the CMH or FCMH

Case Management Hearing: earliest listing dateFPR 2010 PD12A, Public Law Outline table, Stage 2 (CMH)

12 days from Day 1, the day of issue

Case Management Hearing: latest listing dateFPR 2010 PD12A, Public Law Outline table, Stage 2 (CMH)

18 days from Day 1, the day of issue

Further Case Management Hearing: latest listing dateFPR 2010 PD12A, Public Law Outline table, Stage 2 (FCMH)

25 days from Day 1, the day of issue

Advocates' meeting before the Issues Resolution HearingFPR 2010 PD12A, Public Law Outline table, Stage 3 (Advocates' Meeting)

7 days before Date listed for the Issues Resolution Hearing

Local authority to file draft Case Management Order before the IRHFPR 2010 PD12A, Public Law Outline table, Stage 3

1 day before Date listed for the Issues Resolution Hearing

Interim order following a section 37 direction lapses after 8 weeks where no direction under s 37(4) and no applicationChildren Act 1989, s 38(4)(da)

56 days from Date on which the interim order is made

Local authority to report to the court following a section 37 directionChildren Act 1989, s 37(4)

56 days from Date of the direction under s 37(1)

Exclusion requirement in an interim care order lapses if the child is removed for more than 24 hoursChildren Act 1989, s 38A(10)

1 day from Local authority removing the child from the dwelling-house to other accommodation

Local authority urgent refusal of contact with a child in careChildren Act 1989, s 34(6)(b)(ii)

7 days from Start of the urgent refusal of contact

Bar on a repeat section 34 contact application within 6 months of refusalChildren Act 1989, s 91(17)

6 months from Date of refusal of the previous section 34 application

Bar on repeat applications to discharge a care or supervision order within 6 monthsChildren Act 1989, s 91(15)

6 months from Disposal of the previous application

Maximum period a child may be kept in police protectionChildren Act 1989, s 46(6)

3 days from The moment the child is taken into police protection

Maximum duration of an emergency protection orderChildren Act 1989, s 45(1)

8 days from Making of the emergency protection order

Emergency protection order made on a section 46(7) application runs from the start of police protectionChildren Act 1989, s 45(3)

8 days from The first day on which the child was taken into police protection under s 46

Extension of an emergency protection orderChildren Act 1989, s 45(5)

7 days from Application under s 45(4) before the order expires

Service of the application after a without notice orderFPR 2010, r 12.16(4)

2 days from Making of the order without notice

Service of the order itself after a without notice orderFPR 2010, r 12.16(5)

2 days from Making of the order without notice

Maximum duration of a child assessment orderChildren Act 1989, s 43(5)(a)-(b)

7 days from The date specified in the order by which the assessment is to begin

Maximum period in secure accommodation without court authorityChildren (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/1505), reg 10(1)

3 days from Placement of the child in secure accommodation

Maximum initial period a court may authorise secure accommodationChildren (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991, reg 11

3 months from Making of the secure accommodation order

Maximum further period a court may authorise secure accommodationChildren (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991, reg 12

6 months from Making of the further authorisation

Maximum period of secure accommodation authorisation for remanded childrenChildren (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/1505), reg 13(1)-(2), as amended by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Consequential and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/2824), reg 2(3)

28 days from Remand of the child to local authority accommodation under section 91(3) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (not section 23 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969, which was substituted out with effect from 3 December 2012)

Review of a child's placement in secure accommodationChildren (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991, reg 15

1 month from Inception of the secure accommodation placement

Service of a public law application before the hearingFPR 2010 PD12C, para 2.1, table (Public law proceedings)

7 days before Date of the hearing or directions appointment

Service of an application for or discharge of an interim care or supervision orderFPR 2010 PD12C, para 2.1, table (interim orders)

3 days before Date of the hearing or directions appointment

Service of an application in emergency proceedingsFPR 2010 PD12C, para 2.1, table (Emergency proceedings)

1 day before Date of the hearing or directions appointment

Filing an appellant's notice: general time limitFPR 2010, r 30.4(2)(b)

21 days from Date of the decision of the lower court

Filing an appellant's notice: case management decisions and interim care or supervision ordersFPR 2010, r 30.4(3)

7 days from Date of the decision of the lower court

First review of a looked after child's caseCare Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/959), reg 33(1)

20 working days from Date on which the child becomes looked after

Second and subsequent reviews of a looked after child's caseCare Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, reg 33(2)

3 months from Date of the previous review

Time limits at a glance

The headline periods below restate the encoded rules. Run the calculator above for the exact date, with deemed service, clear days and bank holidays applied.

Care or supervision proceedings to be disposed of within 26 weeks: what is the time limit?

182 days from The day on which the Part 4 application was issued, under Children Act 1989, s 32(1)(a)(ii). The calculator applies deemed service, clear days and bank holidays automatically and shows the rule behind the date.

Maximum length of each extension of the 26 week limit: what is the time limit?

56 days from The later of the end of the period being extended and the end of the day on which the extension is granted, under Children Act 1989, s 32(8)(a)-(b). The calculator applies deemed service, clear days and bank holidays automatically and shows the rule behind the date.

Stage 1: allocation, standard directions and service by the local authority (Day 2): what is the time limit?

1 day from Issue of the Part 4 application, under FPR 2010 PD12A, Public Law Outline table, Stage 1, Day 2. The calculator applies deemed service, clear days and bank holidays automatically and shows the rule behind the date.

Appointment of the children's guardian: what is the time limit?

1 day from Issue of Part 4 proceedings, or transfer of Part 4 proceedings to the court, under FPR 2010, r 12.6(a). The calculator applies deemed service, clear days and bank holidays automatically and shows the rule behind the date.

Advocates' meeting before the Case Management Hearing: what is the time limit?

2 days before Date listed for the Case Management Hearing, under FPR 2010 PD12A, Public Law Outline table, Stage 2 (Advocates' Meeting); FPR r 12.26. The calculator applies deemed service, clear days and bank holidays automatically and shows the rule behind the date.