Family Law Enquiries
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Separation is tough on children.
We’ll always look after their best interests.
During separation or divorce, we know that children usually benefit from maintaining a relationship with both parents. So we’ll do everything possible to build an arrangement that works for everyone. Liaising with your former partner’s solicitor, referring you to mediation services and, if necessary, guiding you through the court process.
Total support, complete understanding.
Our team has many years of experience supporting parents and grandparents through what can often be a challenging time. Every family is different, but you can always rely on our team to be thorough, sensitive and wholly committed to your child’s best interests.
We’ll advise you on:
Mediation after divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership
Grounds for divorce and the divorce process
Decree absolute and decree nisi
Child support payments
International divorce or family law
Who a child lives with and how much time is spent with each parent
Protecting children at risk from a parent
Disputes about relocating children in the UK or abroad
Allegations of domestic abuse
CAFCASS and Local Authority reports on child safeguarding
Parental responsibility
Changing a child's name by deed poll
Our aim is to look for a resolution that will work into your children’s teens and young adulthood to avoid future disputes as far as is possible. We encourage you to be mindful of how your child experiences arrangements between you and how they will look back on their childhood as an adult.
Child Law Resources:
Working With Our Service Team
Our dedicated and trusted legal advisers adopt a sensitive and supportive approach, with an emphasis on guiding you step by step through the process. You can rest assured we’ll provide you with realistic and cost effective legal advice, with many of our lawyers being members of Resolution, they are personally committed to a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law issues.
- Philip Cowell
If you have an enquiry in relation to a Family law matter or simply want to speak to a member of our expert team, please get in touch.
Parental responsibility provides parents with the ability to make decisions about and have involvement in a child’s upbringing. It also enables parents to obtain information from third parties like doctors and schools.
Mothers automatically have parental responsibility. If a father is married to the child’s mother is born, they will also automatically have parental responsibility. Unmarried fathers will have parental responsibility if they are named on their child’s birth certificate, unless the child was born before 1 December 2003. If they are not named on the birth certificate, they can make an application to the court or enter into an agreement with the child’s mother to obtain parental responsibility.
It is also possible for parents in LGBTQ or other non-traditional families to obtain parental responsibility for their children.
If you have any concerns about obtaining parental responsibility you should contact your solicitor.
In the first instance, try to have a calm discussion with the other parent directly to see if the issue can be resolved. We often find that text messages can be misinterpreted so using email or another form of communication can help.
If it is not possible to resolve matters directly then you should book an appointment with a solicitor to discuss your options. It is best to do so without delay as it generally takes longer to re-establish contact after a gap. It may be necessary to make a referral to mediation or to make an application to the Court for a Child Arrangements Order. Courts will start from a presumption that it is in children’s best interests to spend time with both parents where it is safe for them to do so.
Unless you have a Child Arrangements Order which provides that the children ‘live with’ you then you need their other parent’s permission to take the children out of the country. If their other parent will not consent it is possible to apply to the Court for an Order allowing you to take the children abroad.
If you do have a Child Arrangements Order you can take the children abroad for up to a 30 days at a time without permission. However, you should discuss and agree travel plans with the other parent. It is good practice to provide the other parent with information about your travel plans and where you will be staying in case of an emergency.
Some countries have special requirements for children travelling with only one parent and you should check the position before travelling.
It is usually a good idea to decide on a routine for the children that varies in term time and in the school holidays. That gives a structure during the school week but allows time for holidays and special occasions. There is no ‘right’ way to do things but it would be normal for each parent to have time with the children at the weekend and ideally during the school week. Any plans have to take into account the children’s schooling and activities, where the parents live and the parents’ work commitments.
If you need advice or support about this then contact a solicitor. It is not always necessary to go to Court. It is often possible to reach an agreement in correspondence or in mediation.
Unless it is an issue you feel able to discuss with the child’s other parent then you should contact a solicitor for advice. If the child is in immediate danger, it may be necessary to apply to the Court for an urgent order for their protection. Otherwise, it might be possible to change the existing arrangements to improve the situation.
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Rajpreet Sangha
Solicitor
