Children matters

Children matters

Children can thrive following the separation or divorce of their parents and can be protected from the perceived impact of the separation process. With our guidance, we can help you secure an arrangement that is in the best interest of your children and your family’s personal circumstances.

During the process, emotions will likely run high and there can be considerable differences in opinion between parents on the way forward. We will talk you through your options and the different processes available to you, this includes reaching an agreement out of court if possible, through processes including mediation or collaborative law. When necessary, we will protect children through the court process.

Taking advice early is key. With extensive experience in anticipating issues that might arise and resolving all matters relating to children, we provide sensitive, strategic, and pragmatic advice to ensure the best outcome for your family. This includes:

  • Parenting arrangements – working out who your child will live with and how much time your child will spend with each parent
  • Relocation – working out where your child will live, particularly if one parent wishes to relocate to another part of the UK or abroad
  • Specific issues – such as working out what school your child will attend or decisions relating to medical treatment
  • Welfare considerations – including determining whether protective measures need to be put in place to ensure your child’s safety at home or elsewhere.
  • Abduction – resolving matters involving allegations that a parent has wrongfully retained a child here or abroad
  • Finances – agreeing the amount and structure of the financial provision for your child

Our connections with parenting and child specialists including, independent social workers, therapists and guardians, will enable your family to receive the holistic support you need. Circumstances do also change, and we can help update existing arrangements to fit your evolving situation.

Key experience

Resisting application to relocate child

We acted for a father in successfully resisting the mother’s application to relocate the child to a neighbouring county in England and Wales on the basis that it would not be in the child’s best interests. In the face of the mother’s opposition to contact, we secured the child’s ability to live with the father and mother and spend almost half her time with her father. We also successfully enforced the order when the mother breached it and secured even more favourable terms for the child with her father.

Acted for a mother living abroad

We acted for a mother living abroad in successfully resisting the father’s claim in the High Court that she had wrongfully removed her child from England and retained her abroad. The claim was dismissed and we secured a costs order against the father.

Protective orders

We have secured a number of protective orders for a number of parents that prevented abusive behaviour by the other parent against their children. This included securing orders to prevent an abusive parent living at home with the children or coming within a certain distance of a child to ensure the children’s safety.

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