Custody of Children
We offer initial legal advice on custody of children and can help you with a Child Arrangement Order. Call our Child Law Solicitors or contact us online and we will help you.
Child Custody Court Orders in England & Wales
If you and your ex-are having any child custody problems related to:
- Agreeing who your child/children should live with
- Agreeing the time a child/children should spend with the other parent
- Agreeing with a specific child/children care, school, medical or religious issue
You should understand the legal options available through these Court Orders:
- Child Arrangement Order
- Specific Issue Order
- Prohibited Steps Order
Child Arrangement Orders
Formerly called Child Contact and Residence Orders. Agreeing what’s right for the children when parents separate it can be difficult to agree:
- Which parent the child/children should live with
- When and how much time kids spend with the parent they don’t live with
- Changing a child’s name or school, any religious or medical treatment issues
A Child Arrangements Order can set out:
- Arrangements for where a child lives either with a parent or a non-parent.
- Arrangements for a child to spend time with or otherwise have contact with a person they don’t live with. This is often the non-resident parent.
When dealing with a Child Arrangements Order application, the Court will take the stance that it is generally better for a child/children if a parent is involved in their lives.
Specific Issue Orders
A Specific Issue Order can be applied for to ask the Court to resolve a disagreement about any matter related to Parental Responsibility. For example:
- Which school the child/children should go to
- Whether the child/children should receive medical treatment
- How religion should be included in the child/children’s upbringing.
- Whether the parent with care can take the child to live abroad
If you want to take a child that lives with you abroad this is a complex matter with extra factors that the Court must consider. It could be a criminal offence to take a child out of England or Wales without the right consent or Court Order, so it’s important to get legal advice beforehand.
Prohibited Steps Orders
A Prohibited Steps Order can ask the Court to prevent one parent taking a particular action related to Parental Responsibility. For example:
- Preventing the child/children associating with someone with adverse influence
- Preventing the child/children being permanently removed from the UK
- Preventing medical treatment
We can work with you on a fixed fee basis so you know exactly what the costs are each step of the way.