After Your Kinship Care Order: Passports, School, and GP Registration in Scotland

The Order Is Granted — Now What?

Getting the kinship care order from the sheriff court is the hard part. But the order only helps if the institutions that control the child's daily life — schools, doctors, the passport office — actually recognise your authority. That means taking the court decree to each one and getting the child's records updated.

Get several certified copies of the extract decree from the sheriff clerk. You'll need more than you think.

Registering with a GP

If the child isn't already registered with your GP practice, bring the extract decree and the child's details (full name, date of birth, previous NHS number if known) to the practice reception. Check the decree for the specific parental responsibilities and rights the sheriff granted you; those terms determine what decisions you can make. Take it to the practice as evidence of your authority.

For a child who's already registered at a different practice, you can request a transfer. The new practice will handle the records transfer from the old one.

Once registered, make sure the practice notes your status as the person with PRRs. This matters when the child needs vaccinations, referrals, or any treatment that requires parental consent. Without the note on file, reception staff may default to contacting the birth parents.

School Enrolment

Local authority schools in Scotland require proof that the person enrolling the child has legal authority. Your extract decree satisfies this. Bring it to the school office along with:

• Proof of your address (utility bill or council tax statement)
• The child's birth certificate if you have it
• Any existing school records or transfer documentation

If the child is already enrolled but under the birth parents' names on the school system, ask the school to update the contact records. You should be listed as the primary contact with decision-making authority — for trips, permissions, and access to reports. Some schools will also need to update their systems to reflect that you, not the birth parents, can collect the child and authorise absences.

Passport Applications

HM Passport Office requires that the person who signs a child's passport application holds parental responsibility. A Section 11 order can grant you some parental responsibilities and rights; check the decree and whether anyone else also holds parental responsibilities before applying.

For a first passport, apply online or by post with:

• A completed passport application
• The child's birth certificate
• Your extract decree showing the parental responsibilities and rights granted to you
• A photo that meets HM Passport Office requirements; for a paper application, a countersignatory certifies the child's photo, while an online application uses a digital photo and identity confirmation

For a renewal, the process is simpler, but you still need to prove your authority. Include the extract decree.

If the child already has a passport in the birth parents' names, you may need to apply for a replacement. Contact the Passport Adviceline first if the situation is complicated — for example, if a birth parent holds a valid passport for the child and you're concerned about travel without your consent.

Medical Consent

If the order grants you the relevant PRRs, you can consent to medical treatment on the child's behalf, subject to the child's legal capacity. This can cover routine appointments, vaccinations, dental treatment, and surgical procedures. Give the GP practice and any hospital consultant a copy of the extract decree at the first appointment.

In an emergency, medical professionals will treat a child regardless of who brings them in. But for planned procedures, having your authority clearly documented prevents delays.

Benefits and Financial Administration

With the order in hand, contact your council's kinship care team to finalise or update the financial assessment under Part 13 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. You should also:

• Apply for or transfer Child Benefit to your name (HMRC form CH2)
• Check your eligibility for Guardian's Allowance if one or both parents have died
• Update your Universal Credit or Pension Credit claim to reflect the child in your household

Each of these has its own process and documentation requirements, but the extract decree is the foundation document that unlocks all of them.

Keep the Decree Accessible

You'll use the extract decree repeatedly over the coming years — every time the child changes school, sees a new specialist, or needs an official document. Keep the original safe and carry certified copies. Some kinship carers scan the decree and keep a digital copy on their phone for situations where they need to prove authority quickly.

Our Kinship Care Orders in Scotland guide includes a post-order authority checklist with notification templates for schools, GP practices, and government agencies.

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