Children

Custody of Children

We offer initial legal advice on custody of the 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 on who your child/children should live with
• Agreeing on 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 on what’s right for the children when parents separate can be difficult to agree on:

• 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's/children’s upbringing.
• Whether the parent with care can take the child to live abroad

If you want to take a child who 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 a 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 from taking a particular action related to Parental Responsibility. For example:

• Preventing the child/children from associating with someone with an adverse influence
• Preventing the child/children from 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 at each step of the way.

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• We offer legal aid in family matters including mediation
• We offer fixed fee if paying privately
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