23 March 2007
Re L (a child) [2007] EWCA Civ 196, [2007] All ER (D) 208 (Mar)
A special guardianship order (SGO) is intended to provide foundations for a life-long relationship between the child and the carer, and to promote and secure stability for the child to be cemented into a new family.
However, the power to order the child to be known by a new surname should not be exercised by the court if it would interfere with the child’s emotional identity needs.
