A special guardian requires the consent of everyone who has parental responsibility for the child before making the following important decisions:

1. Changing the child’s surname or allowing them to be known by a different name
2. Putting the child up for adoption (only birth parents can consent to this)
3. Taking the child abroad for more than three months
4. Consenting to specific surgical procedures for reasons other than improving health, such as circumcision, sterilisation or cosmetic surgery

In respect of 1,3 and 4 above, special guardians would need to seek legal advice if parental consent can't be gained.