Child Arrangements Services
Although every divorce or separation is different, the welfare of children is often the most emotive factor. Whatever your personal situation, Thursfields’ experienced child arrangement solicitors are ready to help. Our services include:
- Living arrangements
- Specific issue orders
- Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS)
- Prohibited steps orders
- Relocation
- Grandparents’ rights
- Child maintenance
- Change of name
Our solicitors are committed to finding an amicable solution to your child arrangement situation.
Want to Know More About Our Child Arrangements Services?
Steps to Simplify Child Arrangement Orders
When separating there are many aspects to consider to ensure the welfare of children; including access, financial maintenance, relocation, and visitation rights for grandparents. Every family set up is different, so practicality is needed to find a suitable outcome for your personal circumstances.
Adopting a constructive attitude towards resolution, and putting the children first, we look to reach an amicable child arrangement agreement and to avoid the courts, prioritising instead communication.
If a cooperative approach proves difficult we can help you to pursue a Child Arrangements Order instead. This makes clear the essentials, such as who children live with, where they will live, and visitation rights. Ultimately, we want to achieve the ideal outcome for your family.
Whether you want to challenge an existing order or have concerns about the welfare of your children post-separation, we have the experience and expertise to help you.
Meet Our
Child Arrangement Solicitors
If you’re looking for advice about child arrangement orders that is tailored to your situation, our team is here to help.
Key Contact
Shane Miller
Director & Head of Family Law
A highly-motivated and driven lawyer, Shane specialises in complex financial disputes, matters involving children, living arrangements, wealth protection, and pre/post nuptial agreements.
Recognised by the Legal 500, Shane prides herself in taking a robust but practical approach that delivers a first class service that her clients can rely upon. Her leadership has led the Thursfields Family team to be regarded as a top tier legal department in the Legal 500 rankings.
OUR TEAM
GET IN TOUCH
Looking for more information about our range of child arrangement services? Get in touch with one of our experienced solicitors today.
Bespoke
Child Arrangement Advice
Our specialist child arrangement solicitors offer practical, compassionate advice that will help resolve your situation. Depending on your circumstances, your priorities could include access rights, limits to moving houses, financial arrangements, the rights of grandparents, and changing names. Because of these variations, we provide legal advice that is tailored to your personal circumstances. We’ll take the time to understand your situation, before making clear all of your available options.
We provide straightforward guidance around child maintenance, name changes, specific issue orders, CAFCASS, prohibited steps orders, and more. Our solicitors are adept at demystifying your case before outlining a clear, concise path towards resolution. Perhaps a change in circumstances means you wish to contest an existing order, or have very specific wishes about your child’s education?
As members of Resolution, our child arrangement experts will always look to prioritise a non-confrontational approach to your position. The wellbeing of your children is central to this. Additionally, we will always look to prioritise a plan of action that avoids the stress and expense of the courts. If this isn’t possible, you can rest assured that we’ll adapt our approach to safeguard the best interests of you and your family.
Helping You Plan for the Future
Assistance with child arrangements is just one area in which Thursfields specialise. If you’re going through a divorce or separation, this might be a good time to start thinking about the future. Following separation or divorce, we can help you amend a Will, change powers of attorney, plan for inheritance tax, and much more. Whatever your situation, we offer specialist guidance to help you adapt to changed circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
When a family relationship breaks down, the parents must decide upon future living arrangements for their children. If this cannot be achieved through mediation, they will need to agree upon a Child Arrangement Order via the courts. This order will set out practical matters, such as where children live, and the scope and specifics of visitation rights.
Although no two families are quite the same, typical child contact arrangements often state one of the following:
- The children will stay with their non-resident parent for a day and night at the weekend.
- The children will visit their non-resident parent more than once in a week, for shorter periods of time, and won’t sleep over.
Any parent, guardian, or special guardian can apply for a child arrangement order without the consent of the court. Additionally, you can also apply, without the court's permission, if you are a step-parent, or have lived with the child for three of the past five years. If Parental Responsibility has changed since a prior order was agreed, and you have the consent of those named in the order, you may also be able to apply without the court’s consent. This could apply to other relatives and local authority foster parents who have lived with the child for one year prior to the application.
In most other circumstances, you will need to apply for a Child Arrangement Order with the consent of the court. Such scenarios are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Ordinarily, a Child Arrangement Order will last until the child reaches sixteen years of age. However, in exceptional circumstances the order can last until the child reaches eighteen years of age. In the event that separated parents move back into the same shared household, an existing order will expire when they have cohabited for six months.
No, you do not need a solicitor to apply for a Child Arrangement Order. The application is submitted via a C100 form, which you can submit to the courts following mediation. However, mediation itself does not provide a legally-binding agreement, so you could be missing out on valuable legal advice by attempting the process without specialist legal representation.
Contact Our
Team
Whether you’re expecting a swift, amicable resolution to child arrangements, or a complex route to court, our child arrangement solicitors are here to help.
