If you want to apply for a court order under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989, you might find you need the Court’s permission to do so. You do not require permission if you are: - The parent, guardian or special guardian of a child - Anyone with parental responsibility - Anyone named as the party with whom the child is to live in an existing Child - Arrangements Order - Anyone in a marriage or civil partnership where the child is a child of the family - Anyone with whom the child has lived for at least 3 years - Anyone who has the consent of each party named in an existing Child Arrangements Order as the party with whom the child is to live - Anyone who has the consent of the local authority if the child is in their care - A local authority foster parent - if the child has been living with them for 1 year or more preceding the application - A relative of the child - if the child has been living with them for 1 year or more preceding the application - Anyone who has the consent of each party with PR for the child - Anyone who has PR for the child (not a parent or guardian) by being named in a Child Arrangements Order as the party with whom the child is to spend time If you are not listed above you, it is likely that you will need to ask the court for permission to apply for a section 8 court order.