Prohibited Steps Order

Clear legal support when you need to protect your child

What is a Prohibited Steps Order?

A Prohibited Steps Order and prevents a parent or anyone else from doing certain activities with their child by placing restrictions on their parental responsibility.

For example, a Prohibited Steps Order could prevent a parent from making decisions about:

  • medical treatment
  • taking their child out of school
  • removing them from their home, local area or the UK; or
  • changing the child’s surname

If you are separated or going through a separation and your former partner is threatening certain actions with your child – such as taking them out of school or their home – then you might consider making a Prohibited Steps Order to prevent them from doing so.

Usually you will need to show that you have attended or attempted mediation before you can apply. However, in some circumstances – such as where there is an imminent threat – an urgent order may be made.

Prohibited Steps Order

Who can make a Prohibited Steps Order?

The Order is granted by a court, but these people can apply:

  • parents
  • step-parents
  • guardians
  • Special Guardians, or
  • anyone named in a Child Arrangements Order whom the child will live with

Our Child Care team have considerable experience in advising people who want to make a Prohibited Steps Order and can advise you on the impact of such an order on your family.

Resolution and Law Society Children Law Accreditations

Why use Rothera Bray?

We can help you if you:

  • would like to make an application for a Prohibited Steps Order or you have received notice of an application for one
  • would like to vary an existing order
  • want to make a Prohibited Steps Order as a stand-alone application or in conjunction with a Child Arrangements Order
  • want to access family mediation in an attempt to reach a resolution

We can represent you at court for contesting such orders.

We may be able to provide Legal Aid where eligible. Give us a free phone call or email to find out.

Our family law solicitors can also help with:

Relationship breakdown and children

We can help with many aspects of a divorce or separation when it comes to children. Find out more.

Children and Divorce

Child abduction/relocation

Understand what ex-partner is able to do with regard to moving (or holidaying) with your child.

Child Relocation and Abduction

Family injunctions

Find out how to prevent an individual having contact with your family if violence has been committed.

Family Injunctions
We help you make the right decisions in the best interests of your child.
Ann-Marie Bowman
Ann-Marie Bowman

Contact our Divorce and Family Law team

Divorce and Family Law reviews

August 19, 2026
We would like to thank you all, for everything you have done. From the bottom of our hearts. You have all worked above and beyond. I honestly cannot thank you enough. If anyone needs a family solicitor, I will recommend your team.
- Family law client
August 17, 2026
I am with great pleasure writing to thank you for my experience with Rothera Bray. The team I have dealt with have been professional friendly & have dealt with my matter during this time. Therefore I would not hesitate to recommend this firm of solicitors.
- Josephine
July 29, 2026
Thank you for all your support and guidance throughout this matter. I really appreciate everything you have done to help bring this to a conclusion.
- Mr G
July 14, 2026
Cannot speak highly of the team at Rothera Bray Beeston, who helped me along to get my issue resolved. Special mention goes to Jack English, who showed incredible resilience, along with a large dose of patience whilst guiding me along the way, so that the correct result was obtained. Would have no hesitation in recommending this practice for whatever legal service you require. Thank you once more!
- Lee S
July 13, 2026
My divorce was a long drawn out process thanks to my ex-husband and Sarah made it a lot less stressful due to her professional caring nature and her expertise. Thank you.
- Karen
July 13, 2026
We cannot thank Rothera Bray enough for the outstanding support they provided throughout our Special Guardianship Order (SGO) process. Thanks to their expertise, professionalism, and dedication, we achieved a successful outcome, and we genuinely couldn't have done it without them. A special thank you goes to Ann-Marie and Emily, who guided us every step of the way. They were always there to offer advice, reassurance, and practical support whenever we needed it. No question was ever too much trouble, and they responded to any concerns or issues incredibly quickly, giving us confidence throughout what was a very challenging and emotional process. Their professionalism, knowledge, and attention to detail are of the highest standard. They made us feel supported from start to finish and always had our best interests at heart. We are truly grateful for everything they have done for our family and would wholeheartedly recommend Rothera Bray to anyone in need of exceptional legal representation. Thank you again, Ann-Marie and Emily, for making such a positive difference to our lives.
- Barbara
July 2, 2026
We just wanted to say a big thank you now the court cases and paperwork are completed. As always you made our journey through the 3rd court hearing very reassuring and supportive...Thank you so much for working so hard for us.
- David G
June 29, 2026
Having had to unfortunately move from a previous solicitor due to their frankly awful service I was recommended Emily Sherwood at Rothera Bray. I can honestly say she was incredible. She helped me re-group, ground myself and get back on track in an incredibly difficult situation and the end result was vastly different from the path it was heading. I would highly recommend Emily, and Rothera Bray. Hopefully I won't need to use the services of a solicitor again but if I do I would not hesitate to reach back out to them. Thank you again Emily for your sound advice, counsel and support.
- SH
June 22, 2026
Emily Sherwood was outstanding again, she is professional, supportive, kind, empathetic and efficient. I don’t know how I would have got through all of it without her. She truly is the best and I’m so lucky to have had her as my solicitor. Thank you Rothera bray for providing such a wonderful solicitor from your company.
- Gemma P
June 8, 2026
I recently spoke with David from Rothera Bray, found him and the whole team to be very helpful and professional. Dealing with a solicitor is not something most people have to do on a day to day basis and the team made it as easy and smooth as possible. Highly recommended.
- John Elliott
June 4, 2026
I’d like to say a massive thank you for all of Emily Sherwood and the teams help at Rothera Bay. Response to enquiries has been timely and everything discussed was dealt with empathy and professionalism. I was guided through the process and fees were discussed transparently, I’m very grateful for all the help received so far.
- Rebecca
May 22, 2026
I used Rebecca's services via Rothera Bray Solicitors to deal with the financial side to a divorce. I had an initial face to face appointment to talk through everything with Rebecca and this made me feel at ease and felt that Rebecca was the right person to help me. Rebecca has kept me highly informed at all stages throughout and has also given lots of great advice and has helped me a lot with getting things sorted. I am really happy with the service that I received and Rebecca was so friendly, kind, understanding and very helpful. I would 100% recommend to anyone who is requiring the help during a divorce.
- Leila
May 22, 2026
Rothera Bray have been excellent in helping me resolve a difficult and expensive divorce, I found them extremely efficient - communication was excellent at all points and generally they were there when I needed them, they all took a personal interest in my case and we arrived at a reasonable resolution thanks to their efforts Specially thanks to Rebecca Emeleus and Rebecca Hudson for their great work, Highly recommended in what are always going to be difficult situation! They are people that you can rely on - which is very important in divorce actions particularly.
- Stuart Randall
May 21, 2026
Sophie is kind and understanding. She explained everything and I felt I was in very capable hands. I would highly recommend Sophie.
- Philippa Stephenson
May 14, 2026
Sophie helped me through the whole experience of getting my case through to fruition with a court order result.
- Lesley
April 28, 2026
I cannot recommend Rothera Bray highly enough, and in particular Emily, who is truly outstanding. Emily took on my case again and from the very beginning she showed that she is unlike other solicitors. She took the time to genuinely listen to me, understand my situation, and focus on what was right for both myself and my children. That immediately set her apart. Where other solicitors had previously pushed their own views, suggesting I accept an undertaking or advising against pursuing a non-molestation order and a section 91(14) order, Emily approached things completely differently. She looked at the full picture, put the needs of the family first, and had the confidence and knowledge to push for what was truly necessary. The outcome has made a significant difference to our lives, and I genuinely believe it would not have been achieved without her. Emily is not only highly knowledgeable and professional, but also incredibly understanding. She puts her clients first, not what is easiest or quickest to achieve, and that level of care and commitment is rare. If you are looking for a solicitor who will truly listen, stand by you, and fight for the right outcome, I would recommend Emily and the team at Rothera Bray without hesitation.
- Nathan

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