Child Law Solicitors in York
If you are no longer in a relationship with your child’s other parent, you may need legal help to deal with certain issues relating to your child’s upbringing.
At Rollits, our child solicitors in York can provide advice and guidance across a range of matters. We know how important it is for you and your family to have a legal framework that you can rely on and the daily routines that work for you and your children.
We have many years of experience in helping parents put child arrangements in place and are often able to deal with matters out of court, avoiding the need for hearings.
We have team members who are members of Resolution, the family law group with particular experience in resolving contentious issues with minimal conflict.
Our child law advice and services include:
- Child arrangements orders
- Representation and advice in alternative dispute resolution and litigation
- Enforcing child arrangements orders
- Specific issue orders
- Prohibited steps orders
Speak to our child law solicitors in York
To discuss your requirements with our children law solicitors, please get in touch today.
You can call Alison Benson, a partner and head of our Family Law team on 01482 337363 or email moc.s1725675505tillo1725675505r@nos1725675505neb.n1725675505osila1725675505.
Our child law services in York
Child arrangements orders
When parents are no longer living together, a child arrangements order can provide some certainty for a family in respect of their child’s schedule. It can include details of where the child will live, when they will see their other parent and how they will stay in touch with each parent.
Our child arrangements solicitors, formerly called child custody solicitors, can work with you to draw up a draft order for negotiation with your child’s other parent. We will suggest the provisions you may want to include and liaise to try and reach an agreement on your behalf.
The courts prefer that all issues relating to children are dealt with by consent wherever possible. Where an agreement cannot be reached over child arrangements, the next step is usually to consider mediation. This is a legal requirement, except if domestic abuse is an issue.
We can arrange for you to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting or MIAM with a mediator. They will explain the mediation process to you and your child’s other parent, separately if you prefer, and you can decide whether you want to try it or not. If you do use mediation and are able to agree on matters, we can ask the court to seal the agreement, making it into a binding child arrangements order.
Representation in alternative dispute resolution and litigation
With an emphasis on resolving child law matters out of court wherever possible, we have wide experience of supporting parents through a range of alternative dispute resolution services.
Mediation is a popular choice, where a neutral mediator will help you and your child’s other parent to explore solutions to any disagreements and encourage you to reach an acceptable agreement over your child’s schedule that works for everyone involved.
Collaborative law involves roundtable meetings between you and your child’s other parent as well as both of your solicitors. It can be a relatively quick and efficient way of resolving matters if you are willing to explore compromises.
Family arbitration is similar to court hearings, but the arbitrator is arranged and paid for privately. This means it is far more flexible than court. You will be able to choose a time and a place to suit you. It is also possible to deal with matters in writing only in some circumstances and to narrow down the issues that you would like covered. The arbitrator’s decision will be legally binding.
Generally speaking, all forms of alternative dispute resolution are faster and more cost-effective than going to court. They can also help families work effectively together and prevent relationships from becoming more difficult.
In some cases however, it is not possible to reach an agreement and litigation is unavoidable. We have extensive experience of taking cases to court and we will ensure that you have the support you need. We will explain the role of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), who can help the court by providing information about your family, and we will ensure that you have robust representation throughout.
Enforcing child arrangements orders
If your former partner has breached a child arrangements order, it can be upsetting for you and disruptive for your child. We can contact your former partner to remind them of their obligations and if the breach continues, ask the court to enforce the terms of the order.
Court intervention can be persuasive in ensuring that a parent complies with an order. Where a breach is continuing, the court has several options available in dealing with this, including:
- Requiring the parent to attend a Planning Together for Children course
- Referring you both to mediation
- Making an enforcement order or suspended enforcement order requiring unpaid work to be carried out
- Varying the original child arrangements order
- Making an order for compensation to cover any financial loss that occurred because of the breach, for example, if your child was not available to go on a trip or on holiday
- Imposing a fine
- Passing a prison sentence, reserved for serious cases only
Specific issue orders
Where you and your child’s other parent are unable to agree on a particular matter, such as relocating, choosing a school for your child or deciding what religion they will follow, the court can be asked to make a specific issue order. This is an order dealing with the single point in dispute.
Prohibited steps orders
A prohibited steps order can be requested from the court if you wish to prevent someone from taking a particular action in respect of your child. For example, you may discover that your child’s other parent intends to change their name or take them out of school. We can make an application to the court on your behalf, asking for an order to protect your child where necessary.
Why choose our children law solicitors in York?
Rollits has a wealth of experience and a reputation for excellence in family law, divorce and separation issues. We are committed to providing the highest quality legal advice as well as providing support for clients as they go through challenging legal issues.
We will always take the time to understand your situation so that we can provide the tailored guidance you need and identify the best way forward for your case.
Wherever possible, we work to resolve matters out of court. This can be particularly beneficial when dealing with issues relating to children as it can prevent an escalation of conflict.
To find out more about our services, please see family law solicitors in York.
Our child law fees
Our child law legal fees are competitive and provide excellent value for money. We will ensure that you have solicitors with the right level of expertise for each stage of your case.
If you would like to discuss the potential costs, please get in touch using the contact details below.
Speak to our child law solicitors in York
To discuss your requirements with our children law solicitors, please get in touch today.
You can call Alison Benson, a partner and head of our Family Law team on 01482 337363 or email moc.s1725675505tillo1725675505r@nos1725675505neb.n1725675505osila1725675505.