Children arrangements and disputes
The end of a relationship can be especially difficult if you and your partner have children.
Having a supportive and knowledgeable family lawyer at your side can help make the process easier by removing the burden of dealing with the legal formalities involved.
expert family lawyers in surrey.
With a number of experienced family lawyers on our team, know we’ll do all we can to make this difficult time a little easier for you.
Disputes often arise in relation to children, such as who they will live with and how often they will see the other parent.
how we can help you
Time spent with both parties (contact) is considered the right of the child, rather than the parent.
We can help you agree on contact arrangements with your former partner or spouse and if a dispute arises, we can guide and help you through any necessary court application.
This is often mistakenly referred to as “custody”. It simply refers to where the child will live, this does not have to be just one place.
Spending time with your children and sharing that time with your ex-partner should, if possible, be agreed between you directly. However, we recognise this may not always be possible.
We can help you consider and agree the arrangements for your children and prepare a parental plan including issues such as where they will live and with whom and how much time they will spend with each parent. If you cannot reach an agreement, we can guide and support you through the court process.
If you feel that there is a very real risk that your partner or spouse may abduct your child, we can help you take the urgent and necessary steps to prevent this. Or, if your child has already been abducted, we can issue an urgent application at court for your child to be returned.
In these cases, prompt action is key, and you need to seek legal advice as a priority.
If you wish to leave the country with your child, you need the consent of every person who has parental responsibility. If consent is not given – for holiday or a more permanent relocation – then the court will need to grant permission. We can help you with the process of obtaining leave and guide you through the evidence you will need to persuade the court to grant leave. Taking the law into your own hands is not the best way forward.
Sometimes disputes can arise in relation to:
- schooling
- medical issues
- matters of religion/faith
- surnames of children
We can help you try and resolve these issues and any others. If you cannot reach an agreement, we can offer support in mediation or advise and assist with representation in a necessary court application.
If you can reach an agreement in any of the matters involving your children, then a detailed parenting plan is recommended. We can of course help with this.
Our Lawyers.
Hasnain Arshad
Clare Marion
Katy Osborne
Lynsey Roadnight
Emily Sullivan
Lynn Sutton-Bunnell
