After a child’s health and happiness, there is nothing more important to parents than their child’s education. Getting your child into the school of your choice can be more challenging when you are separated or divorced from the child’s other parent. For expert advice on children and family law call our team of specialist family lawyers or complete our online enquiry form. Parental disputes and schooling issues Children lawyer, Louise Halford, has helped many parents resolve where their child should be schooled, and sometimes just as importantly, who should pay the school fees. The sorts of parental disputes over education and schooling include disagreements on: Whether a child should be state or privately educated and if educated privately who should pay the fees Whether a child should be home educated by one parent Whether a child should attend a school with a religious affiliation The specific school, with issues over school catchment area and parent’s homes and the feasibility of mid-week contact visits if the school choice is some distance away combined with debates over the Ofsted rankings of potential schools Whether a child should board or be a day pupil Whether a child should have a SEND assessment and be mainstream educated or attend a specialist school to address health concerns such as a child being on the autistic spectrum or dyslexic whether a child should move to a new school, for example if a parent’s new partner’s children attend a different local state school or are being privately educated Who decides on the choice of school? Both parents have equal rights and responsibilities for their child if they share parental responsibility for their offspring. Parental Responsibility means parents have an equal say in the choice of school. If parents can’t reach an agreement after discussion or mediation then ultimately the court can decide and make a specific issue order identifying the school that the child should attend. The court decision is based on what the judge thinks is in the child’s best interests taking into account a range of statutory factors. That is why it is important that the judge knows your child’s personality and likes and dislikes as if your child is sporty and not academic that might influence the judge in deciding that a school with a focus on exam results might not be the best environment for them. When presenting an argument for a particular school pastoral care can be as important as a focus on sports or academic achievement. [related_posts] Who pays the school fees? Most parents’ fear on separation is that their child may not be able to go to the planned private school or may have to come out of private education and move into the state system. The Child Maintenance Service can’t order a parent to pay school fees as part of general child support but the court can make a school fees order to make one parent either pay or contribute towards private school fees and ‘extras’, such as uniforms, music lessons, or the annual school ski trip. The court looks at a range of factors when deciding whether or not to make a school fees order, including the affordability of private education. What next? The new school year, the graduation from nursery to primary school or from primary to secondary school may seem a long time away but all of a sudden choice of schooling will become a pressing issue. That is why separated or divorced parents need to start to talk early and do their research on suitable school options to hopefully reach an agreement on what type or specific school is in your child’s best interests. If an agreement can’t be reached then, after mediation, either parent could start court proceedings. The court will try to decide on children law applications as quickly as it can but inevitably court timetables aren’t as quick as parents ideally want. That means that it pays to think and talk early so the judge has time to make a decision on the choice of school or payment of school fees well in advance of the new school year. For expert advice on children and family law call our team of specialist family lawyers or complete our online enquiry form.

Every time you stand in a queue at the airport do you tense up, worried about whether you will be challenged by an official over your paperwork, luggage or children? It is a particular concern if your children’s surname is different to your own. For example, if your ex-partner registered the children using her surname or if you reverted to using your maiden name after your divorce. In this article, our family law solicitors look at the issues that can arise when travelling with your children if their surname is different to yours.          For expert family law advice call our team of specialist family lawyers or complete our online enquiry form. Why do issues arise when travelling with children whose surnames are different to yours? You may think that an official is just being difficult but border officials, passport control, and airport and ferry staff are all trained to look out for children travelling with adults who do not share the surname of the children they are accompanying. It is a red flag for potential child abduction or child trafficking – although all you want to do is take your children to Spain for a much-earned break. It is easy to get angry when you are questioned about your children, especially when you are already stressed out by airport delays or if your toddler is having a tantrum. When your child looks like the spitting image of you then it is hard to bite back on a cutting reply and easy to get into an argument that can unravel into your family not being able to travel. As family law solicitors working with parents worried about potential child abduction and trying to recover abducted children from abroad, the careful approach taken by some UK and overseas border officials and travel staff is in many ways very welcome. However, family solicitors do share the frustration experienced by some UK families about the lack of consistent international rules on the paperwork needed to travel with a child either as a family, a single parent, a relative or a nanny. The difference in regulations between countries can catch out the unwary parent and ruin a planned trip. It isn’t just single, separated or divorced parents who need to be careful. If you are a grandparent, whose surname is different to that of your grandchild, and you are taking your child abroad on holiday then you may encounter the same issues. [related_posts] A cautionary tale For those who question if travelling with a child is an issue our family law solicitor, Louise Halford, has first-hand experience of the difficulties. She tried to help a dad take his daughter on holiday to South Africa. He had arrived at the airport check-in desk without appreciating that as he was flying to South Africa on his own with his daughter, he would need a legal affidavit as well as extra paperwork. She happened to be at the next check-in desk and offered to help with the legal document and his wife rushed down with extra paperwork to try and make sure that her daughter could go on the planned trip. Sadly, all their efforts didn’t work out as the family only had their daughter’s short-style birth certificate. If an affidavit is needed so a child can go abroad with a parent then there must be enough time for all the paperwork to be obtained before the affidavit is sworn. What paperwork is needed if you are travelling overseas and your children have a different surname? The exact documents you need depend on the country you are travelling to. Whilst you may not be challenged to produce additional documents in the UK you may be asked for additional paperwork when you are trying to enter another country or leave it to return to the UK. As a general rule, to safeguard yourself and in case of officials not taking your word about your relationship with your children, it is best to take birth certificates for yourself and the children, copies of any change of name deed and marriage certificate (for example, if you reverted to your maiden name after your divorce) and evidence that the child’s other parent agrees to the trip. If you couldn’t get the other parent’s written consent, and instead had to apply to the court to obtain a holiday order, then take the order with you. If the court has awarded you a child arrangement order it is sensible to take a copy of that order as well. Do I need the other parent’s consent to take the children out of the UK? If you are not travelling with your child’s other parent, you may need their written consent or a court order to legally take your child abroad. Whether you need the other parent’s written agreement depends on if your child lives with you and if you have a child arrangement order that says you are the parent with care. If so, you don’t need written consent or a holiday court order provided your overseas holiday is for 28 days or less. If you fall in the category of the child arrangement order covering your trip it is sensible to take the order with you. If you aren’t sure if your child arrangement order says your child lives with you ( the wording on court orders can be rather confusing) speak to a family law solicitor about whether you need written consent or a holiday order. If you don’t have a child arrangement order, or the order just sets out the contact arrangements with your child, then you need written agreement from the other parent (or anyone else with parental responsibility) or a holiday court order. From a family law solicitor’s perspective, parents should be prepared to answer questions when travelling overseas with their children, especially when the children have a different surname to you, and should check the: The paperwork you need to take with you and The rules in the country you are travelling to and the documents you may need there For expert family law advice call our team of specialist family lawyers or complete our online enquiry form.

When you are a separated or divorced parent it can be hard to reach an agreement over aspects of your child’s parenting. The importance of a child’s education can be a trigger point for family law disputes with each parent holding equally strong views about the schooling and education choices that are best for their child. In this article, children law solicitor Louise Halford helps parents understand their options when there is a family law dispute over schooling. For expert family and children law advice call our team of specialist divorce lawyers or complete our online enquiry form. School-related family law disputes Parents can get involved in a range of school-related children and family law disputes including: Whether a child should be privately educated or state educated The choice of private school – with disputes over whether a child should board or be a day pupil or the location of the school or its specialism in academic achievements or sports The decision to home school Entering a child for grammar school exams Whether to request a special educational needs assessment or not The decision to request a child attends a mainstream school or a specialist school Attendance of both parents at school sports days or plays or other events The release of information, such as school reports or attendance records, by the school to the parent who does not have daily care of the child Contact arrangements and collection from or return to school One parent taking the child on holiday during term time Parental disagreement over use of school disciplines, such as school detention, suspension, or exclusion Resolving school-related parent disputes It is best to resolve school-related parent disputes as quickly as possible. Ways to achieve that include: Solicitor negotiations Roundtable meeting Family mediation If you cannot reach an agreement then either you or your ex-husband or wife can apply to the court for the court to decide on the issue in dispute. This is called an application for a specific issue order. Alternatively, you may need to apply for or respond to an application for a prohibited steps order or child arrangement order. During any children law proceedings, you will be encouraged to reach a resolution so you do not have to ask a judge to determine the school-related dispute at a contested final hearing. [related_posts] Court proceedings to determine school-related parental disputes Whatever type of school-related parental dispute a judge is being asked to adjudicate on, the court must look at a range of factors, known as the ‘welfare checklist’ when making a decision. The key point is that the court must make a decision based on what it thinks is in the child’s best interests. For example, you may want your child to be privately educated and you may have selected and reserved a place at the best private prep school with an excellent academic record. Your ex-spouse may believe that your child is too young to board or that your child is not sufficiently academic to thrive in your chosen prep school. You may attribute their objections to selfishness on their part or a desire to thwart your long-held ambitions for your son or daughter. A court will consider your child’s wishes and feelings after considering their age and level of understanding as well as their personality and both parents’ arguments.  The fact that a child does not want to go to a new school does not mean that the court will not make a specific issue order as the court will look at what is in the child’s overall best interests. The likelihood of succeeding in an application for a specific issue order in part depends on the homework you and your family lawyer do in preparation for the court case. For example, if there is a dispute over the choice of school, checking Ofsted reports can be helpful. If there is a dispute over whether home-schooling is in a child’s best interests a detailed statement covering why a parent is so committed to home education, their research on available local resources and support groups, the child’s experiences in previous schools, and how the parent can cover a range of lessons, and ensure the child also enjoys activities with friends of their own age such as drama and sport, can be very persuasive. For expert family and children law advice call our team of specialist divorce lawyers or complete our online enquiry form.

Many parents who are thinking about a separation or divorce want to make a fresh start overseas with their child. In this article, specialist family law solicitor Louise Halford shares her experience in helping parents apply to move abroad with their children and advising parents on how best to oppose child relocation applications. For expert Divorce and Children Law advice call our team of specialist divorce lawyers or complete our online enquiry form. Moving overseas with a child after separation or divorce Evolve Family Law has seen an increase in inquiries from parents about moving out of the UK with their children. The inquiries are not just from parents currently based in Cheshire and the North West of England, but from across the UK. The increase in children law inquiries is down to the following trends: The world becoming a smaller place with people meeting and marrying partners from other countries The number of overseas families who came to the UK on work visas and dependant visas and who settle in the UK by securing indefinite leave to remain or British citizenship but, after a separation or divorce, one parent wants to return to their country of origin Emigrating for work as opportunities for working abroad increase International parenting after separation or divorce It is said that being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world. That is particularly true for any parent who is involved in ‘international parenting’ as a result of one parent moving abroad with the child. Most parents find it hard enough to let their child go off for the weekend with their ex-partner, let alone accept that their child should get on a plane to another country to see their mum or dad. Prior to committing emotionally or financially to an overseas move, many parents don’t fully appreciate that if they are successful in relocating abroad with their child that the family court will often order that the child should spend long chunks of time during holidays with the parent who is not moving abroad and who will be missing their weekend contact. It is often said that there are ‘no winners, only losers’ when one parent moves to another country with their child, whether that be back to a parent’s country of origin or as a result of a new job or relationship. However, with communication and imaginative contact arrangements, even airport handovers, can work. If it is a relocation to Spain then the flight from Manchester or Liverpool airport and the child’s handover may be a lot easier than navigating a motorway trip from Cheshire to Cornwall or Guildford. [related_posts] The law on international child relocation Some parents are well-researched on the law on child relocation but for others, it is a whole new arena. The basic principle is that if a child is habitually resident in the UK the child can’t move abroad with either parent unless the other parent agrees to the move or the family court makes an order granting permission to relocate. The law on child relocation and moving abroad with your child can be hard for a parent to get to grips with. If, for example, both parents originate from the US but currently live in the UK with their children this may mean that their children are classed as habitually resident in the UK. Therefore, although all the family members are American citizens, if one parent wants to return ‘home’ to the US with the children, permission still has to be obtained from an English court.  Without specialist legal advice on child relocation law, many parents don’t realise the implications of booking their flight home. The legal and personal costs of not knowing the law on international parenting can have a devastating impact on a parent and their chances of successfully getting a court order to let them take their child abroad or a child arrangement order. Contact arrangements if a child moves overseas As part of one parent agreeing to give permission, or the court making an order allowing the other parent to relocate, the contact arrangements should be recorded. If a court order to relocate is made the court will normally also make a child arrangements order setting out how often the child should see the other parent. The court order can include written contact, Skype, and face-to-face contact. An agreement should be reached and recorded on specific details such as The agreed travel arrangements Who, if anyone, will accompany the child Who should pay for the costs of flights Extended family and grandparent’s ability to travel, time differences with Skype, the child’s ‘best friend’, and key dates such as Thanksgiving and grandad’s 80th birthday should not be forgotten. ‘Small’ details such as these can impact on whether arrangements work for a child. Compromise is also a key factor as if grandparents can’t make a long-haul flight to Australia for Christmas could both parents split the travel and meet in Dubai? It is often those small points that make all the difference in whether international parenting will work for a family or not. Legal advice on child relocation overseas It is always tough to answer a query on whether a mum or dad will get permission to move abroad. That is not just because the law on this subject is so complex but also down to international parenting being one of the hardest things for any parent to contemplate, and therefore for their family law solicitor, to guide a parent through. Invariably a parent is already emotionally, if not financially, committed to their move abroad before they take the step of getting advice and so it is always worth getting an assessment of your family situation and your options before you commit to a move. For expert Divorce and Children Law advice call our team of specialist divorce lawyers or complete our online enquiry form.

The family law solicitors at Evolve Family Law are regularly consulted about common law marriage rights by unmarried partners and former cohabitees. In this article, we look at the myth of common-law marriage. For expert family law advice call our team of specialist family lawyers or complete our online enquiry form. What is common law marriage? Common law marriage is a myth. In English law, common law marriage is not a legally recognised concept. You do not get rights as a cohabitee because you are in a common-law marriage. An unmarried relationship does not become a common law marriage because of the number of years you have been living together. You do not get common law marriage status whether you have been in a cohabiting relationship for 2 years or 20 years. Cohabitation rights If you don’t get cohabitation rights through the concept of a common-law marriage, how do you get cohabitation rights? Family lawyers say there are ways to get rights but it is best to understand how you can get those rights before you decide to move in together, have children or elect not to enter into a civil partnership or get married. Unfortunately, too many unmarried couples only find out about their cohabitation rights (or lack of them) after they split up from their partner. As an unmarried partner, your cohabitation rights can come through a variety of means, including: Joint property ownership – you can jointly own property either as tenants in common or joint tenants. The way you own property can have a significant impact on what happens to the property if you split up or if one of you passes away. That’s why it is best to take family law legal advice before you jointly buy a property as an unmarried couple Sole property ownership – you can make a claim against a property even if it is owned in the name of your partner. A claim could potentially be made under property or trust law if you can show that you have what is referred to as an equitable interest in the property A cohabitation agreement or deed of trust – if you reach an agreement with your partner, either at the outset of your relationship or during your relationship, you can set out your agreement and rights in a cohabitation agreement (or deed of trust if the agreement relates solely to a specific property) If you have dependent children with your unmarried partner, you may also have the right to claim: Child support through the Child Maintenance Service or the family court if the Child Maintenance Service does not have jurisdiction or if the Child Maintenance Service has made a maximum assessment under their child support formula so you then have the right to apply to the family court for top-up maintenance Lump sum payment to meet a child’s specific needs Housing for the child whilst the child is dependent – this means you would no longer be able to stay in the property after the child reaches the age of 18 or 21 School fee payments if your child is being educated privately Disability-related extra costs of caring for a child with a disability The bottom line is that however long your unmarried relationship lasted for you do not have the same legal rights as a civil partner or husband or wife. For example, you won't be able to claim: A share of the family business – unless you are a shareholder or a business partner or you can successfully say that ownership of all or part of the business was held in trust for you A share of your partner’s pension Spousal maintenance A share of investment portfolios held in your partner’s sole name unless you can argue that the investments were held in trust – something that is very hard to do With unmarried partner disputes, the family court has to follow property and trust law to resolve the dispute over ownership. If you are married or in a civil partnership, the family court looks at a range of factors to achieve fairness. That’s why in divorce proceedings the court can exercise a lot more discretion and there is less likelihood of one partner walking away with nothing after a long relationship. For engaged or married couples who do not like the sound of the family court having such a degree of flexibility in divorce financial settlement proceedings, there is the option of a prenuptial agreement or postnuptial agreement to record how family assets should split if you separate. [related_posts] Cohabitation rights and estate planning If an unmarried partner dies without making a will (intestate) the surviving cohabitant has no automatic right to their partner’s estate. They could claim but this involves court proceedings against the deceased’s relatives who have inherited the estate under the intestacy rules. In a relationship without children, this could involve bringing a claim against the estate arguing that your partner’s parents should not inherit under the intestacy rules because your partner had not made reasonable financial provisions for you as their unmarried partner. This is why it is vital that if you are in an unmarried relationship, you and your partner make a Will and estate plan. Protection for you as a cohabitee Family lawyers understand that financial hardship on the breakdown of a cohabiting relationship is a realistic possibility in many cases because of decisions made by the couple during the relationship about property ownership. If a married couple make the same property ownership decisions during their relationship the family court has the discretion and power to make orders that it thinks are fair to both husband and wife or both civil partners. In a non-married relationship, a family judge just doesn’t have the same degree of flexibility as the court has to divide the assets of an unmarried couple based on property and trust law rather than housing or other needs. The best option for cohabitants who are concerned about property issues and protection if they split up from their unmarried partner is to enter into a cohabitation agreement or living together agreement. This document is a form of contract setting out a couple’s decisions about what will happen to their property on separation. It works in a similar way to a prenuptial agreement and if drafted properly by a specialist family lawyer will be upheld by a court. The cohabitation agreement should be accompanied by both cohabitees signing Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney so their estate and future proof planning recognises the importance of their loved ones. If you would like a cohabitation agreement or need family law advice following a recent separation from your cohabitee then contact Evolve Family Law. For expert family law advice call our team of specialist family lawyers or complete our online enquiry form.

Child arrangement orders have been around a long time but we still get lots of questions from worried parents who are in the midst of a separation or divorce about their child custody rights or asking questions about residence and contact or access orders. In this article, children law expert Louise Halford answers your frequently asked questions on child arrangement orders. For expert Divorce and Children Law advice call our team of specialist divorce lawyers or complete our online enquiry form. What is a child arrangement order? A child arrangement order is a Court order that sets out parenting arrangements for children when there is a dispute between parents. The order is a combined order as it will set out where the children will live ( this used to be referred to as a custody order or residence order) and the contact arrangements (this used to be referred to as an access order or contact order). Do I need a child arrangement order? You only need a child arrangement order if you can't agree on the parenting arrangements for your children. If you can't reach an agreement direct then your children law solicitor can help you sort things out by negotiation or by providing legal support during family mediation. The Court will not routinely make a child arrangement order just to record what you have agreed unless there is a history of dispute or a real reason for the order. Will a child arrangement order let me take my children abroad? If you are named as the residential parent in a child arrangement order you can take your children abroad on holiday for up to four weeks without needing the other parent’s agreement. However, even with a child arrangement order, you can't move overseas with your children without the other parent’s agreement or Court order. If the other parent won't agree to your plans to relocate overseas with the children, then you need to apply for a relocation order. Can you change a child arrangement order? A child arrangement order can be changed either by both parents recording that they agree the parenting change or by applying back to Court to vary the child arrangement order. For example, if you agree that the children should be returned home at 6pm rather than at the old time of 5pm, the agreement to the change could be recorded in a text or email without needing to go to the expense of a Court application. However, if your child wants to move to live with you and the other parent won't agree then you will need to apply to Court to vary the child arrangement order. You should not change the child arrangement order without taking advice as you do not want to be accused of breaching the Court order. Does a child arrangement order include child support payments? A child arrangement order does not say if child support should be paid by one parent to the other parent. If you can't agree on what child support should be paid the Court has limited powers to make a child support order but the Child Maintenance Service can be asked to carry out an assessment of child support liability and can arrange payment. [related_posts] Shared care and child arrangement orders A child arrangement order can specify the parent the children will live with and set out the contact arrangements with the other parent. Alternatively, a child arrangement order can say that parenting is shared and specify how the shared parenting works. It does not necessarily have to be a fifty per cent split of each week. Ideally a child arrangement order will also set out how holiday contact will be arranged. For example, that parents will have alternate year Christmas day contact or that school holiday contact will be divided equally on dates to be agreed between the parents. With a child arrangement order can you make all important decisions? If you have a child arrangement order it does not allow you to make all the important decisions for your child, such as choice of school or faith. The other parent is likely to have parental responsibility for your child so you both have equal rights and responsibilities over major decision making. That means if you can't reach an agreement over an aspect of parenting then either you or the other parent will need to the Court for a specific issue order or a prohibited steps order. The Court will make a decision based on what the judge believes to be in the child’s best interests. Who can apply for a child arrangement order? It isn’t just parents who can apply to court for a child arrangement order. There are others who have an automatic right to apply for a child arrangement order such as step parents, a relative if the child have been living with the relative for twelve months or anyone who has looked after the child for three years or more. In addition to those with an automatic right to apply for a child arrangement order, others can apply for permission to apply for a child arrangement order. This typically covers the situation where a grandparent wants an order to have contact with a grandchild. If you need help with a child arrangement order application our specialist children law solicitors are here to help you. For expert Divorce and Children Law advice call our team of specialist divorce lawyers or complete our online enquiry form.

We all fear some appointments, whether it is an appointment with a doctor or dentist, or meeting your family lawyer for the first time. In this blog, family law solicitor, Louise Halford, looks at how to get the most out of your first meeting with your family lawyer. For expert Divorce, Children and Financial Settlement advice call our team of specialist divorce lawyers or complete our online enquiry form. In this article we look at: Choosing your family law solicitor Timing your appointment Company at your appointment Preparing for your appointment Talking to your family solicitor Choosing your family law solicitor Before your initial consultation with your family law solicitor, it is best to do some research on whether your family lawyer and the firm are the right fit for you. Just because a friend found a family solicitor wonderful in their divorce, it doesn’t mean they will necessarily be right for you, or that they are experts in the area of family law you need advice on. At Evolve Family Law, we believe in being proactive in helping you choose the right family solicitor for you. That’s why we publish information about the lawyers and our fee guide on our website. We will also speak to you to try and make sure there you are seeing the best solicitor for you at your initial consultation. That’s because family lawyers, just like consultants and surgeons, specialise in different areas of family law. If you need urgent advice about child abduction fears and child relocation orders you don’t want to see a solicitor who has a particular interest in international prenuptial agreements when the firm has expert children law and child abduction lawyers. Timing your appointment It is never too early to have an initial consultation. It can be helpful for you to learn about likely children or financial settlement options should you go ahead with a planned separation. That way you can make informed choices. Taking family law legal advice does not commit you to starting children law or financial court proceedings but it does help you work out the best options for you, through having the information you need to make informed decisions. [related_posts] Company at your appointment If you want to bring a friend or a family member to your appointment that should be fine with your family solicitor. Bringing someone with you can be really helpful as they can make sure that you are asking the questions you want answers to. They can also discuss the advice you received with you after the meeting. All family solicitors ask of you is; to choose the person who comes with you with care. That is because you may be discussing personal issues at your appointment. Your solicitor will not want you to feel inhibited and unable to be totally open about the reasons why you need help and legal advice. Also, a family friend or relative needs to be there as a support, rather than to take over the appointment to discuss their own family law problems or their own views on your relationship or family law issue. If they do that, it is frustrating for both you and your family lawyer solicitor as we both need to focus on you. Therefore, if you want company at your appointment, think about who will provide the best support to help you to get the most out of your consultation. Preparing for your appointment Whilst you are welcome to just turn up to your phone, zoom or office appointment, it can help some people to prepare for the appointment. We don’t mean anything ‘too heavy’ by this. Just have a think about why you need advice and the background. For example, your family solicitor may want to know the date of your marriage or date of separation or when your children were born or the approximate date of when an incident occurred . It is surprising how easy it is to forget dates or to only remember the questions you wanted to ask your solicitor after your consultation. Lawyers like questions, so do bring a list of questions with you. Whilst a family lawyer may not be able to fully answer all your questions at a first meeting, they will be able to tell you what information they need to gather to fully answer your queries. Talking to your family solicitor An initial consultation with a family solicitor is a ‘two-way street’; your family lawyer needs to know a bit about you and about your family law query as well as your goals. Armed with that information a family solicitor can help you get the best out of an initial consultation. Consultations work best when you have the confidence to ask your questions. You therefore should not worry about whether your questions are too basic or whether your solicitor will think you should know the answers. Likewise, your lawyer may need to ask you some questions that you don’t think are very relevant to your family solicitor answering your questions. However, there are some questions that will help your lawyer understand the circumstances so your legal advisor can then work out how best to answer your questions as accurately and as thoroughly as possible. For expert Divorce and Financial Settlement advice call our team of specialist divorce lawyers or complete our online enquiry form.

It's hard to put a price on seeing your children. It is also hard for a children law solicitor to put a price on the cost of a child contact Order or child arrangement Order. In this blog expert children law solicitor, Louise Halford, takes a look at the cost of a child contact Order. Evolve Family Law are Cheshire, Manchester and Online Family and Children Law Solicitors. For legal help on family law and children law proceedings call us or complete our online enquiry form. Are child contact Orders worth the cost? Whether a child contact Order is worth the cost depends on who you speak to. Recently, ‘I am a celebrity’ winner and former EastEnders actor, Jo Swash, reportedly said that the money he spent in legal fees to get an Order to see his eldest son was ‘the best he’s ever spent’. We don’t think Jo Swash likes paying lawyers, it was more that he felt that it was only when his children law solicitors secured a child contact Order for him that he got to develop the sort of relationship that he wanted with his eldest son. It is undoubtedly always difficult when a couple split up and one person forms a relationship with someone who already has children or the new couple go on to have children together. The feelings of hurt can make it harder to agree contact arrangements and prompt court proceedings to secure a child arrangement Order so a parent can get to see their child. We don’t know exactly why Jo Swash and his ex-partner ended up in court or why they were not able to agree the child contact arrangements via children law solicitors or in family mediation. What children law solicitor, Louise Halford, does say is that she always tries to discourage children law court proceedings because of the cost ; to your purse and to your emotions. That may sound very odd coming from an experienced children lawyer. However, if you are able to reach a compromise and agree the contact it is normally better for both parents and the child. That is the case however much money you have available to spend on a child arrangement Order application. However, there are some situations where it is best to spend money on a child custody or contact Order, whether that is a child arrangement Order, specific issue Order or prohibited steps Order. For example: One parent is refusing to agree to any contact. A parent is alienating the child against the absent parent so the child is being turned against you. You are concerned that the child is at risk of harm (physical or emotional) by either living with or having contact with the other parent. You are worried that the child may be taken overseas to live against your wishes and that you won't get to find the child if they disappear in a country that isn’t a signatory to the Hague Convention. You may need a prohibited steps Order to prevent child abduction and to protect the child. You were in an abusive relationship and you fear that your former partner is using contact with the child as a means of seeing you and exercising control over you. Their behaviour may make you feel at physical risk or may have such an impact on your emotions that it affects your parenting. One parent is refusing to change the contact arrangements. For example, refusing to let an older child stay overnight with you or go on holiday with you and your new family. There are many other reasons why you as a parent may have no alternative other than apply to the family court for a child arrangement Order to sort out the child custody and contact arrangements but it is best to get independent and impartial children law advice before you make an application to court. The cost of a child contact Order It is difficult for any expert children law solicitor to tell you how much a child contact Order will cost you, however transparent a pricing structure they adopt. That is because in some situations the threat of starting court proceedings is sufficient to get a parent the sort of shared parenting or contact arrangements they want. In other scenarios, a parent can make allegations that the other parent isn’t expecting and firmly disputes. If those allegations go to the heart of whether a child should live with one parent or why a child should have restricted or no contact with the other parent then they need to be investigated by the court. This could involve a series of court hearings including a finding of fact hearing. At a fact finding hearing a family judge will decide if they can make a finding about an allegation. The standard of proof is lower than at a criminal hearing but a family court finding can have significant consequences for the current children law application and any future applications. After any findings have been made at a fact finding hearing the judge will then hold a separate hearing to look at what Orders are in a child’s best interests. For example, a judge might find that domestic violence occurred in the parental relationship but that the child is not at risk of domestic abuse and contact can be managed in a way that means the parents don’t come into direct contact with one another. The costs of a children law custody or contact application can't or should not be measured in purely financial terms. If there is a court hearing with both parents giving evidence it may further polarise the parents or it may create additional stress for an older child who is aware of the court application, possibly because they have been interviewed by a CAFCASS officer appointed by the court to find out the child’s wishes and assess what orders are in the child’s best interests as sometimes what a child wants (or says they want if there is an element of coaching) may not actually be best for the child. An expert children law solicitor can help you look at things from the perspective of a family judge so you have the understanding you need about child custody or contact proceedings  to decide if they are worth it to you or that you have the confidence to reach an agreement in family mediation or during solicitor negotiations. Evolve Family Law are Cheshire, Manchester and Online Family and Children Law Solicitors. For legal help on family law and children law proceedings call us or complete our online enquiry form.