Separating is a difficult and stressful time for anyone, but when there are children involved in the relationship, emotions can intensify, and Venters Solicitors are here to listen.
As a parent you will know better than anyone what is right for your children, but during a separation you may just need support and guidance on the best way to reach a resolution that is in the best interests of your child.
Coming to an agreement on child contact arrangements outside of the Court will put less strain on the family overall, but we understand that this may not always be possible, and we are here to help you navigate through all of the options.
If you require more information, we have created a guide that provides a detailed overview of Child Arrangement Orders. You can check it out by clicking the link below:
What is a Child Arrangement Order?
The two main decisions that will need to be resolved are whom the children will live with and when the children will spend time with the other party or indeed anyone else. A Child Arrangement Order will be put in place by the Court to help regulate these arrangements once agreed.
The Courts priority when agreeing the order is that the arrangements are in the best interests of the child/children and at Venters Solicitors we are experienced and accredited children law solicitors, so we can make sure that any arrangements for your children are likely to be agreed by the Court first time to minimise your stress.
Child Arrangements Order
Child Arrangements Orders regulate:
- With whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact;
- When a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with any person
Child Arrangements Orders were previously known as custody and access Orders and they are still referred to as such in a number of other countries. Following this, Orders regulating who a child is to live with and the time they spend with the other parent or otherwise have contact with were called residence and contact orders. Sometimes these Orders are still informally referred to as custody and access orders and residence and contact Orders but the current term for these types of Orders is Child Arrangements Orders.
Variation of Child Arrangement Orders
The arrangements that you put in place for your children may suit your situation following the separation, but over time things can change. As children grow older, they may not wish to spend every weekend with their other parent, and would perhaps prefer to spend more time with their friends.
If complying with the original order becomes a problem, then we advise that you try to communicate and adjust your routine to suit your current circumstance, but if this not possible then Venters Solicitors are here to help you to apply for a variation to the order through the Court.
Prohibited Steps Order
A prohibited steps order enables you to apply to the court to stop the other person with parental responsibility from making a decision about your child or children about which you do not agree.
There is a range of things that the Court can prohibit a parent from doing in respect of a child by making a Prohibited Steps Order such as prohibiting a parent from removing the child to another country or from the care of the other parent or from their school.
For more information about Prohibited Steps Orders, click here.
Specific Issues Order
A specific Issues Order enables you to make a decision about your child or children in respect of a specific issue concerning their welfare even if the other person with parental responsibility disagrees.
Examples of issues relevant to this particular order are:
- Attendance at a particular school or
- Undergoing a particular medical procedure or
- Anything else that requires a decision to be made by a person with parental responsibility
Key Contacts
