Family Law Guides

It is estimated that between 80,000 and 150,000 children are affected by divorce each year in the UK.  While the figures for children affected by cohabitation breakdown are not known they are estimated to be double that figure.

While there can be a tendency to pigeonhole issues relating to children and divorce into certain categories, matters relating to children are never simple.  Nothing changes your perspective on life more than parenthood and disputes over children usually involve the deepest of emotions.  Often the inability of the parents to get along spills over into this area, usually to the detriment of everyone involved.

The main legislation relating to children is found in the Children Act 1989.  Section 8 of that Act deals with the normal range of Orders between parents dealing with where and with whom the child or children shall live and what contact there should be with the non-residential parent.  The Orders normally cease to have effect once a child reaches the age of 16, but can extend beyond that in limited circumstances.

Our guides are designed to help you understand the process and issues involved.  At the same time it is important that you try and consider with an open mind the issues from the other person's perspective.  Failing to do so can often accelerate a breakdown in communication, with both sides drawing fixed positions they then refuse to move from.

The philosophy behind the Children Act 1989 is that any genuinely concerned person should be able to ask the Court to consider a question relating to the welfare of a child.  The most important aspect of all children issues is the welfare checklist.  It is the main foundation to all decisions involving children.  If you do not know where to start then we recommend you start there.

We are here to help 24 hours a day 365 days a year.  Either e-mail us anytime, call (01296) 662770 (Nick) or (01525) 373322 (Richard) during the normal working day or (07973) 424178 in an emergency.