When parents separate, concerns about children are often the most difficult and emotional issues to navigate. The law relating to children is designed to provide stability, protect children’s wellbeing, and help parents put workable arrangements in place for the future.
Understanding that each client’s situation is unique. We support parents and provide personalised advice tailored to your specific needs.
Child arrangements deal with the practical, day-to-day arrangements for a child after separation. These are often the issues parents are most concerned about. Child arrangements include:
Living arrangements
Time spent with each parent
School routines, holidays, and special occasions
Communication and indirect contact
Many parents are able to reach agreement without court involvement. Where this is not possible, the court can make a Child Arrangements Order to provide clarity and reassurance for everyone involved, particularly the child.
The aim is always to give children a sense of security and predictability, helping them adjust to family changes as smoothly as possible.
A Child Arrangements Order is a court order that sets out where a child will live, how much time they will spend with each parent, and when that time will take place. It replaces the old concepts of “residence” and “contact” and focuses on practical arrangements for a child’s day-to-day care.
You may need a Child Arrangements Order if you and the other parent cannot agree arrangements for your child after separation. The court expects parents to try to resolve matters through discussion or mediation first, but an application can be made where agreement is not possible or where there are safeguarding concerns.
The court’s paramount consideration is the child’s welfare. It applies the statutory welfare checklist, which includes the child’s needs, the capability of each parent to meet those needs, the likely effect of any change in circumstances, and, where appropriate, the child’s wishes and feelings.
Yes. A Child Arrangements Order can provide for shared care where this is in the child’s best interests. Shared care does not require equal time and will depend on practical factors such as schooling, work patterns, distance between homes, and the ability of parents to cooperate.
You are not legally required to use a solicitor, but specialist legal advice can be invaluable. A solicitor can advise on your prospects, prepare the application and evidence properly, and represent you in negotiations or court, helping to keep the focus on the child’s welfare and avoid unnecessary conflict.
