Family law - children

Joanna Wrigley LL.B. (Hons)
0113 320 5000
family@winstonsolicitors.co.uk

Your children are often your biggest worry when you separate or divorce. We are experienced in dealing with children issues in a professional and sensitive manner.

Many couples, with the benefit of our advice, are able to make arrangements for their children without incurring the cost of legal proceedings.  We can advise you about the types of arrangements that work for other families and give you guidance about what may be ordered by a Court, if either of you were to apply.

If there are no disagreements about your children, the Court probably won’t make any orders about your children at all. 

If, as a last resort, one of you has to apply to the Court, the main Orders a Court can make are set out in the Children Act 1989:

• Parental Responsibility

A bundle of rights relating to the parenting of a child which enable you to have a say in important decisions about your child’s upbringing. 

• Residence or Shared Residence

Shared does not necessarily mean 50% of the time - a residence order will stipulate where a child should live

• Contact

How much time a child should spend with a parent, relative or step parent with whom she does not live

• Prohibited Steps

Preventing something from happening to a child eg. Removal from England to a foreign country

• Specific Issue

When a Court is asked to decide about an important aspect of a child’s upbringing, which parents are disputing eg. Which school a child should attend.

Children Act proceedings can prove costly in terms of legal fees. It is important that you get cost effective expert legal advice.

Our family law services

For more information about our relationship legal services please click on the links below:

• Financial settlements
• Cohabitation
• Divorce
• Same sex relationships
• Separation
• International divorce and children issues

Further information

Speak to our family team, in confidence on 0113 320 5000.

Or if you are calling from outside the area, use lo-call 0845 890 2277.

Or email us directly on: family@winstonsolicitors.co.uk