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Child Law Solicitors
Experienced in dealing with complicated and sensitive matters.
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Specialist Child Law Solicitors
Our specialist child law solicitors understand that family relationship breakdown can be very difficult to come to terms with, especially when children are involved. That is why agreeing the arrangements for your children is absolutely crucial when things go wrong.
At Signature Law, our expert child law solicitors have many years of experience in handling cases involving children. With our skill, experience and dedication, we will work towards helping you achieve the best possible outcome for your family.
Experts in child law cases
Sital Somayia
Expert Child Law Solicitor
Our lawyers have a wealth of practical and legal experience in child law matters and can help you with a range of issues, including:
- Where your children will live (also known as residence)
- Who they can see and when (this is known as contact)
- Child maintenance, school fees and housing costs
- Whether a parent can relocate a child (both in England and Wales, and overseas)
- Getting legal access to your grandchildren/other family members
- Specific issues – such as changing a child’s surname or school
Enquire now
Start your child law enquiry today.
Give us a call or fill out the contact form and a member of our team will get in touch to discuss how we can help.
We’re available Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm (excluding bank holidays).
Constructive child law solicitors
Our specialist child lawyers are committed to promoting a constructive approach to family issues that considers the needs of the whole family and particularly your children.
As well as generally being in the interests of your children, negotiation is often quicker, less stressful and can promote a good working relationship with your ex-partner for the future.
However, from working with many families we know that sometimes it’s not possible to negotiate or agree arrangements. Circumstances can arise where you may require court action to resolve matters. In these instances, we will act speedily to ensure the best solution for everyone involved.
We represent children, parents, grandparents and other family members – our approachable and friendly child law solicitors will support and advise you every step of the way, making the process as smooth as possible.
Types of court orders
If your case does need to go to court, our lawyers can help with various types of court orders:
- Child arrangements order
A child arrangements order sets out where your child will live and spend time.
- Prohibited steps order
A prohibited steps order can prevent someone from doing something, such as changing your child’s school or moving abroad.
- Specific issue order
This order can decide a particular issue, such as where a child is to be educated.
Who can apply for a child arrangements order?
Any parent or guardian of a child can make an application for a child arrangements order. The following people also have the right to apply for contact with the child:
- Anyone who lived with the child for at least three of the last five years and the application is made within three months of the child ceasing to live with them
- Any person in a marriage where the children were a part of their family (e.g step parents)
- If the child is in care and the local authority consents to the order being made
Anyone who does not fall into these categories can still make an application and the court will consider their relationship with the child, the advantages of the order and the risk of harm to the child.
If an order is granted to someone who is not the birth parent of the child such as a grandparent or other close relative, the parental responsibility is shared equally between the guardian and the parents, whose legal relationship with their child will not change.
FAQs
How does the court decide child arrangements?
If you can’t agree the arrangements for your children with your ex-partner – either between yourselves, through mediation or solicitors – then the court will need to decide for you.
The court’s main priority when deciding child arrangements is the wellbeing of your children. In most cases, they view children having regular contact with both parents as being best for their wellbeing. The court will also view contact with the child’s extended family (for instance grandparents) as important to their upbringing.
When deciding the details of a child arrangements order, the court must take into account all of the factors listed in the welfare checklist These include:
- The child’s wishes and feelings (these are not necessarily a deciding factor)
- The parent’s ability to meet the child’s needs
- Any harm or risk of harm to the child
- The child’s age, sex and background
- The likely effects of any change to the child’s care arrangements
- The child’s physical, emotional and educational needs
What is Parental Responsibility?
Parental Responsibility relates to the legal rights, duties, powers and authority a parent has regarding the upbringing of their child. Parents who have parental responsibility are obliged to agree on important issues surrounding their child’s lives and upbringing where possible. When matters cannot be agreed between parents then the Family Court can be invited by either parent to assist in making decisions on behalf of the parents.
Can I take my child abroad on Holiday?
If a Child Arrangement Order is in force and you’re named as a person the child spends time or otherwise has contact with, you can’t take them abroad without the consent of the person with whom the child currently lives. If you can’t get this, you’ll need to make an application to the Court, which should be marked as urgent should there be a time restriction.
If you’re named in a Child Arrangement Order as a person the child lives with, you can take your children abroad for up to a month without anyone else’s consent. For longer periods, you need the consent of each holder of Parental Responsibility for the children, or a Court Order which grants the Court’s consent through a Specific Issue Order.
Can I change my child’s name?
When a Child Arrangement Order is in force, you cannot change a child’s name without the agreement of each person who has Parental Responsibility for the child, or failing this, the Court’s consent through a Specific Issue Order.
There is a Contact Order in place, but my ex-partner will not adhere to the order granted?
If the Court has granted a Child Arrangement Order or Contact Order allowing you contact with your child, and you are being refused access to your child, this could be deemed in breach of the Contact Order. If that is the case, we advise that you apply to the Family Court to enforce the terms of the Order. If you are successful, your ex-partner could face a fine or other penalty. We can consider the terms of the Contact Order in detail and provide advice based on your individual circumstances as to what steps you should take.
Do grandparents have rights?
If you have grandchildren, the breakdown of a marriage or relationship between parents can cause significant stress and emotional anxiety especially when it comes to retaining contact with your grandchildren.
In the UK, grandparents have no automatic rights and often parental responsibility is limited to parents, but you can still apply for a child arrangements order in certain circumstances.
Our highly experienced legal team are always on hand to offer advice and support in relation to your rights to see your grandchildren.
Why instruct our child law solicitors?
We promise our clients the utmost sensitivity and discretion when handling the interests of children. We will provide you with emotional support and expert legal advice to help you establish financial, living and contact arrangements ideally outside of the Court.
In these situations we have the knowledge and experience to help you through both mediation, solicitor negotiations and court proceedings and we will do everything we can to support you and your children through the issues that arise during the most traumatic time of your life.