Going through a divorce or separation can be an extremely difficult experience, and where children are involved, parents will often have contrasting perspectives about what’s best for them. If parents disagree about where children should permanently live, and how child contact will work, it may be necessary to obtain a Child Arrangements Order to legally finalise these matters.
At Heringtons we understand that the idea of Court proceedings regarding your children can be overwhelming. Our team have worked with a wide range of clients facing complex situations and disagreements involving their children.
When a relationship breaks down or there are other difficulties or disputes within the family, we can help you achieve a workable, practical co-parenting arrangement focused on the needs of your children.
Issues relating to children can be particularly sensitive and we offer a calm and reassuring presence as we guide you through the relevant aspects of the law and help you make the most appropriate decisions for your family.
Our specialist solicitors can deal with various matters, including:
- Mediation for child arrangements
- Court proceedings to obtain a Child Arrangements Order
- Children law disputes
- Specialist child law advice
Get in touch with our friendly, experienced family law solicitors.
For advice about resolving your family law issues, contact our family law solicitors in East Sussex. You can contact us at our offices in Battle, Bexhill on Sea, Eastbourne, Hastings or Rye.
Or fill in our online enquiry form and we will be in touch shortly.
How we can help with child arrangements
Mediation for Child Arrangements
A Child Arrangements Order is a type of Court order, used to determine where a child will live, and who they will have contact with. It may be necessary to apply to the Court for a Child Arrangements Order where the child’s parents are in disagreement regarding these issues.
In order to apply for a Child Arrangements Order, the parents must have first attempted to come to an arrangement between themselves outside of Court, for example, using mediation processes.
We can assist clients in making arrangements for where their children will live, as well as creating a plan for child contact and negotiating any issues related to the child’s upbringing. Our specialist solicitors have years of experience in assisting parties to come to an agreement, and always put the child’s best interests first.
Child Arrangement Order
If it is not possible to agree on child residency and child contact matters using mediation processes, we can assist you to apply to the Court for a Child Arrangement Order.
This Court Order is used to establish where a child will live once their parents are divorced, determining whether child residency will be divided between both parents equally, and if the child will live with one parent for the majority of the time.
Where the second option is judged to be more appropriate, the Order will also establish how child contact will work with the non-residential parent.
Our child arrangement solicitors have a lot of experience assisting clients to finalise child access arrangements in a wide range of circumstances. We appreciate that applying for a Court Order can feel intimidating, and can guarantee sensitive support to ensure that you feel at ease throughout.
Children law disputes
If parents cannot agree on some aspect of their child’s life or upbringing, it may be necessary to seek legal intervention to resolve the disagreement.
Under these circumstances, our solicitors can assist you to apply for the appropriate Court Order, for instance:
Specific Issue Order: These orders are intended to make a decision concerning a specific issue of a child’s upbringing, for example, where a child will go to school, or their religious education.
Prohibited Steps Order: These orders are used to prevent your someone from taking a certain action with regard to your child’s life, for example, attempting to move them overseas, or making changes to their surname.
Specialist child law advice
As well as providing legal advice and support regarding Child Arrangement Orders, our legal team can also offer help with specialist child law matters including:
- Child maintenance agreements
- Parental responsibility disputes
- Domestic and international relocation
- Special guardianship
- Rights for grandparents
Frequently asked questions about Child Arrangement Orders
What is a Child Arrangements Order?
A Child Arrangements Order refers to a Court Order that is used to determine where a child lives and whom they will have contact with, including parents whom they do not live with full time, and other members of the family.
When establishing a Child Arrangements Order the Court takes various factors into consideration, including:
- The welfare of the child in question
- The child’s needs, including educational, physical, and emotional
- Each parent’s ability to take care of the child and meet these needs
- How lifestyle adjustments imposed by the Child Arrangement Order might have an adverse impact
Why would someone get a Child Arrangements Order?
In the best-case scenario, both parents will be able to come to a voluntary agreement about where their children will live, using mediation or other alternative dispute resolution processes, without needing to attend Court.
Where parents cannot agree on where their children will live, and negotiation processes fail, it is often necessary to apply for a Child Arrangements Order. This means that the court will make decisions concerning child residency and child contact, based on the best interests of the child.
How long does it take to get a Child Arrangements Order?
How long it takes to obtain a Child Arrangements Order largely depends on the case itself, including whether the Court have any concerns with regard to the child’s welfare.
It may take approximately 6 months to one year to obtain a Child Arrangements Order. Once our solicitors have gauged an understanding of your case, we will attempt to give a more accurate time frame, as well as working with you to streamline the process where possible.
What can a child arrangements order include?
A Child Arrangements Order is used to determine various important arrangements for a child, including where a child will live, and how child contact will work between them and the individuals who have parental responsibility for them.
Each order will be different depending on the case, but generally speaking, the order may cover areas such as:
- Who will act as the residential parent, or how child residency will be split between both parents
- Child contact arrangements between the child and their parents, or other family members
- Details such as how often the child will spend time with a non-residential parent, and where the visits will occur
- Details on the type of contact that a child will have with a non-residential parent, for example, emails, telephone calls etc.
Breaching a Child Arrangements Order can have legal consequences, so if you do not agree with the conditions imposed in an Order, it is important to work with a solicitor who can help you to examine your options.
Get in touch with our friendly, experienced family law solicitors.
For advice about resolving your family law issues, contact our family law solicitors in East Sussex. You can contact us at our offices in Battle, Bexhill on Sea, Eastbourne, Hastings or Rye.
Or fill in our online enquiry form, and we will be in touch shortly.