Disputes Involving Children

All parents face difficult decisions about their children when they separate or divorce. Expert legal advice at an early stage allows parents to understand their position and all options available to them, including mediation and collaborative law.

Our specialist children solicitors have many years of experience in dealing with family disputes involving children and have been recommended in Tier 1 by Legal 500 UK 2019. Our family law department includes members of the Law Society’s Family Panel and accredited Resolution specialists and Collaborative Family Lawyers. All ten of our team are members of Resolution.

In most cases, mediation is the first step and is mandatory before court proceedings can be issued. However, if court proceedings are necessary to decide where children live, or who they see, a child arrangements order (formerly residence, contact and custody) may need to be put in place.

Sometimes an unmarried father will not have parental responsibility for his children even though he is the biological father. In these cases, a Parental Responsibility Agreement or Court Order will be necessary.

If parents cannot agree on children's names, medical treatment or schooling then the Court can decide on these issues if necessary. If one party is considering moving to another country and wishes to take the children with them, they will need the permission of any other person with parental responsibility for those children. If they do not consent, then the Court can decide what is in the child's best interests.

Our family law team includes Resolution accredited specialist children lawyers who can provide clear, practical advice in relation to all these issues.