With few matters more sensitive than those involving children, finding the right family and child law solicitor is key to reaching the best result for your situation.

Our legal team provides practical advice that has the needs of the parent and child at the forefront. We are advocates for alternative methods of dispute resolution (such as mediation), and we can support you as you go through the courts if required.

We can help with:

Child arrangement orders

Previously known as residence or contact orders, child arrangement orders now encompass the following information:

Where your child will live
When (and where) your child will spend time with each parent
Any other types of contact that may take place (phone/video calls or letters, for example)
Whether supervision will be required during contact

A specific issue order can help to address factors surrounding your child’s upbringing. It might include what school they go to, any healthcare needs or whether they will have a religious education.

We can also support you with applying for a prohibited steps order, which can stop the other parent from making certain decisions about a child’s upbringing.

We can also help to support you with name changes, and any other court orders relating to your child’s wellbeing. Please contact us for case-specific information.

Parental alienation

We recognise parental alienation as when one parent manipulates a child into unjustified resistance to the other parent.

We can help to resolve disputes between parents regarding alienation, and ultimately find the best outcome for all involved.

Child maintenance and financial claims

Child maintenance payments might be agreed as part of a divorce or separation agreement, or as separate negotiations.

We can assist you with reaching an agreement regarding child maintenance payments, as well as any other financial claims. These might include school or university fees and property settlements, or maintenance payments on behalf of an unmarried or cohabiting parent.

Co-parenting, step-parents or grandparents/extended family

Whether your family was formed through re-marriage, surrogacy, assisted reproduction or adoption, we can advise on the legalities of parental responsibility.

We can help you with who has parental responsibility, or support you through the steps to acquire parental responsibility.

Whilst grandparents don’t have an automatic right to time with their grandchildren, we can also help grandparents, or any other members of the extended family, to explore their options in their specific situation.

International or expatriate children disputes, inc. Child abduction

Given the international experience of our team, we are well-placed to advise on matters of international family law.

These disputes might involve nationals or expatriates from different countries, who might be living in the UK or elsewhere. These cases might involve more complex jurisdictional or logistical challenges, so would benefit from our team’s specialist advice.

In every case involving children, early legal advice from experienced child law solicitors is key to achieving a swifter and more constructive resolution. Disputes can escalate quickly, and we understand that you need to put your own and your child, or children’s, needs first.

For help with legal issues involving children, whether or not your problem is listed above, get in touch with Carlsons Solicitors.