Legal support in coming to an agreement for children

Lawyers can help you negotiate and resolve issues out of court.  If following negotiations you still cannot agree then you’ll need to apply to and attend court for a court order. Before you go to court you must show you’ve attended a meeting about mediation first, except in certain cases (there’s been domestic abuse, for example).  

Types of court order – the type of court order you need depends on what you’ve been unable to agree on. You can apply for more than one court order.

Arrangements for your child – a ‘child arrangements order’ decides:

• Where your child lives
• When your child spends time with each parent
• When and what other types of contact take place (phone calls, for example)

In this short video, Family Lawyer Liza Gatrell at Stowe explains what a child arrangements order is, who can apply for a child arrangements order, how do you apply for a child arrangements order, how long does a child arrangements order last, and how a family lawyer can help.

Your child’s upbringing – a ‘specific issue order’ is used to look at a specific question about how the child is being brought up, for example, what school they go to or if they should have a religious education. You can also apply for a ‘prohibited steps order’ to stop the other parent from making a decision about the child’s upbringing.

Our expert lawyers can guide you through the process our team supports a wide range of families and has helped parents, grandparents, and family members deal with the sensitivity and emotions surrounding these situations.