When you are separating or divorcing, the priority for you as a parent is to sort out the arrangements for your children. You want to do the best for your children in what can be an emotionally challenging and testing time.
Our specialist children law solicitors and family lawyers are here to help you resolve child arrangements so you and your children can adjust to the new situation with minimum disruption.
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Child arrangements
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When you first think about a separation or divorce you may not know where to start to try and sort out child arrangements. You may think that your ex-partner is being unreasonable and putting their needs above those of your children. They may be proposing arrangements which seem to be ignoring the practical difficulties or the wishes of your children.
Our expert children law solicitors can advise you on the best way to resolve child arrangements and help you to make decisions with confidence. Your options include:
- Solicitor negotiations
- Roundtable meeting
- Family mediation
- Arbitration
- Court proceedings for a child arrangement order
Our team can help you work out which option is likely to be best for you and your family to reach an agreement on parenting arrangements.
Urgent child arrangements advice
If you are worried about your family situation, we can offer urgent legal advice, so you understand your children law rights and court options. Examples of where you may need quick advice include:
- Your ex-partner is refusing to let you see your children
- You are experiencing domestic violence
- You are worried about child abduction and fear that your ex-partner may take your children overseas
- You are concerned about the safety of your children with your partner.
Applying for a Child Arrangement Order
Reaching an amicable agreement with the other parent is by far the best solution for the children where this can be done safely, but sadly despite best efforts this is not always possible. If you cannot agree on the parenting arrangements that will work best for your children, you or your ex-partner, could apply to the family court for a child arrangements order. This type of children law order settles residence, access and contact to your children. Our expert lawyers can represent you in those proceedings to help you achieve the best outcome for you and your family.
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Here when you need us
Our offices are staffed Monday - Friday, from 9am-5pm. If you need to talk to someone, please call any of our office telephone numbers. We will be happy to help.
Child arrangement orders are very flexible and can include:
- Shared parenting orders with children spending an equal amount of time with each parent
- Child arrangements where one parent cares for the children for the majority of the time and the other parent’s contact with the children is set out in the court order. The contact could include overnight, weekend and mid-week contact as well as holiday arrangements.
The court will focus on the needs of your child when deciding what children law order to make. That is why it is important that your child arrangements order application addresses why the orders you are asking the court to make are in the best interests of your children.
Children law applications
In addition to sorting out your child arrangements addressing where your children will live and the contact arrangements, our family law solicitors can also help you with:
- Specific issue order proceedings – if you cannot agree on a specific matter such as whether your child should be privately educated or if they should be home-schooled or.be vaccinated
- Prohibited steps order – if you need to stop something from happening to your child (for example to stop them being moved schools if this is going to damage their education)
- Relocation orders – if you want to move overseas with your children or you want to oppose the international relocation of your children
- Holiday orders – if you want to take your children abroad on holiday and your ex-partner will not give their agreement or you object to the planned holiday
- Child abduction orders and prohibited steps orders to stop a child from being taken abroad
- Parental responsibility applications
- Child maintenance and child support advice
- Top up child maintenance
- School fee order applications
- Children financial applications under schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 – for housing provision for your children or a lump sum to meet a child’s specific need
- Step-parent rights and legal advice
- Grandparent rights and legal advice
Our family law solicitors can help you with all your children law questions and needs. We provide impartial expert legal advice to help you decide how best to resolve child arrangements after your separation or divorce. Our team can negotiate or represent you in court proceedings and will ensure your views on what is best for you and your family are heard.
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We understand that finding a solicitor that you feel understands your own specific situation can be a daunting task. We have created a series of fixed-price consultation meetings with a full ‘no questions asked’ money-back guarantee promise.
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Our reviews
Delivering excellent results
Calm, professional and communicative
Ammarah Balouch’s guidance and preparation made the first hearing much more manageable. From the start, she was well-prepared and communicated clearly, explaining each stage, so I knew what to expect. Because the case involved my daughter, it was emotionally challenging for me. However, Ammarah remained calm and professional throughout. She ensured the key points were clearly articulated and kept the discussion focused on my daughter’s best interests. Her practical advice, steady support, and responsive communication reduced my stress and boosted my confidence. Following the hearing, we achieved a significant milestone in establishing contact with my daughter, which had previously been made difficult by my ex-wife. This outcome highlighted the effectiveness of Ammarah’s approach and preparation, and I would confidently recommend her to anyone needing support in a family matter.
Szymon
Kind and supportive throughout
Following my initial consultation with Fullers Family Law I chose Fullers to manage my Divorce proceedings and my Financial Matters / Financial Remedy. In all aspects of my case Fullers Family Law have been excellent. I must however specifically mention Asia who has handled my financial matters and been a tower of strength through a most difficult time. I have found Asia to be calm, confident, highly knowledgeable, efficient and honest with a kind and reassuring manner even when I doubted a fair and reasonable settlement was possible. Throughout the process which, through absolutely no fault on Asia`s part, resulted in the case going before the Courts. Asia was professional, supportive, caring and provided clear, realistic advice and guidance. I am absolutely certain that without Asia I would not have been able to secure what I consider to be a very fair and reasonable settlement. I can genuinely recommend Fullers Family Law and specifically Asia Razaq-Miah.
Anonymous reviewer
Outstanding attention to detail
I had the pleasure of working with Reena Bhanderi for my divorce case, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. From the beginning, Reena was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and compassionate, guiding me through what was a very challenging time. She took the time to explain every step of the process in clear terms, always ensuring that I felt informed and supported. Her attention to detail and dedication to achieving the best outcome for me was outstanding. Reena was always responsive, and her calm and reassuring approach made a difficult situation much easier to manage. I am extremely grateful for her expertise and would wholeheartedly recommend her services to anyone in need of a solicitor. Thank you, Reena, for your excellent work!
Tarun