Children

Hill Dickinson’s family team specialises in helping families reach amicable solutions about childcare arrangements and representing parties in court proceedings. 

Expert advice is provided on:

  • Residence orders (formerly known as custody orders)
  • Contact orders (formerly known as access orders)
  • Financial provision and child support claims
  • Orders relating to children’s schooling, for example determining whether a child should attend a particular school and the payment of school fees
  • Orders prohibiting certain steps, for example one parent taking a child out of the country without the other parent’s agreement
  • The obtaining and exercise of parental responsibility for children

Key considerations:

  • Children are vulnerable to the effects of separation and divorce.  In the majority of cases, children need to maintain a relationship with both parents and their extended family
  • Courts can make shared residence orders, although this does not necessarily mean that a child will spend an equal amount of time with both parents
  • If parents are able to reach an agreement over childcare arrangements - either through negotiations or the collaborative process - there may be no need to obtain a formal court order
  • Contact and child support arrangements should be the subject of regular review
  • Extended family members can begin court proceedings if contact arrangements cannot be agreed

Key contacts


Paula Milburn
Partner
Paula Milburn
Telephone
+44 (0) 151 600 8704
Email
paula.milburn@hilldickinson.com