Between family members
There are few things in life as important as our children and it is therefore not surprising that these types of family problems are often the most emotionally charged and heavily contested. Unfortunately, it is also well documented that protracted disputes involving children can be very damaging to their long-term development and well-being which is why we will act quickly to resolve your matter. As one of Staffordshire’s leading children law Solicitors we have an experienced and accredited member of Law Society’s Child Panel ready to help you. This accreditation is only available to solicitors who have shown, to the satisfaction of the Law Society that they have and will maintain a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in the area of children law. There is a presumption in law that wherever possible it is in the best interest of a child to be brought up with the active involvement of both parents and both sides of the family. There will however be some more complex situations where it is not in the child’s best interest and in these circumstances Staffordshire Family Law Solicitors will seek the best level of protection for you and your child. It is not just parents who disagree about arrangements for children in the family, grandparents and extended family members including siblings may also. At Staffordshire Family Law we are able to provide assistance to whom ever it is finding themslves in difficuty regarding arrangements with the sensitivity that deserves.
Thankfully, the vast majority of people are able to sort out the arrangements for their children without the involvement of family solicitors or the Family Courts. However, where this is not possible, Staffordshire Family Law’s expert children law Solicitors can provide you with sound legal advice and practical guidance based on our many years of involvement in all types of children law matters. At Staffordshire Family Law Solicitors we will always try to negotiate a settlement that has your child’s best interests at heart thus avoiding the expense, both financially and emotionally, of family court proceedings. Where this is not possible, and negotiations have failed, we will take your matter to court and actively pursue the right Court Order for you and more importantly your child.
The most common type of Children Law disputes are those relating to the arrangements for your child where they should live and when they should spend time with the other parent or family.
These used to be called Residence Orders and Contact Orders although both terms have now been replaced by a single Child Arrangement Order. A Child Arrangement Order sets out how and where a child will share his time with both parents and other family members. The other main orders available are used to allow or prohibit specific things that will affect your child. This could be things like moving out of the area or country, changing a child’s surname and other matters affecting your child’s health, religious beliefs and education. Parental Responsibility is a key issue for unmarried parents where the father is not named on the birth certificate. We can assist with a Parental Responsibility Agreement or application to Court and in the case of a step parent, Step Parental Responsibility Agreements. We are also consulted on issues regarding Private Law adoption and although this is now rare we can advise you as to the steps you need to take. We are able to advise you on all aspects of family law and assist you in securing the outcome that is right for the family and yourself.
Please note that Legal Aid funding may be available for any application to Court. This is subject to strict evidential requirements and means testing, however if you believe that you are a victim of domestic abuse or social services are involved with the child subject to the application, this may be available to assist with your costs. Our expert solicitors will advise you as to whether your case will qualify and will always ensure that an application is made to the Legal Aid Agency in such cases.
