Child Arrangement Orders in Nottingham

Child Custody Lawyers in Nottingham

When facing a divorce or separation, your first instinct may be to look for a child custody lawyer in Nottingham. The term “custody” is now considered outdated. Reflecting modern approaches to co-parenting and a greater focus on child welfare, the correct legal term currently used is “Child Arrangements Order”.

So, what exactly is a Child Arrangement Order? In simple terms, it is a legal order made by the family court that sets out where a child or children will live, and how much time they will spend with each parent, grandparent, or guardian. We know that a relationship breakdown can be disruptive for a child, but establishing a clear child arrangement order can help to maintain stability and routine. It also helps to support relationships that might otherwise fall apart in the separation process. 

If and when the time comes, you will need to look for a solicitor specialising in Child Arrangement Orders in Nottingham – and that is where we can help.

How can a child Arrangement Order Solicitor in Nottingham help you?

As we’ve touched upon above, the priority in the wake of a separation is often to ensure that your child is happy and protected. However, this can look different to each parent. A Child Arrangement Order helps to navigate conflicting wishes from both parties to find a resolution that works best for the child.

A Child Arrangement Order can help to organise a variety of areas, including:

• Establishing how much time the child will spend with each parent, potentially including which parent will provide the child’s “primary” residence – e.g. a 50/50 split or a weekday/weekend schedule.

• Setting out the means of contact between the child and the parent, whether that’s in the form of phone calls, video calls, or written correspondence.

• Outlining contact with the wider family when appropriate (e.g., siblings, grandparents).

• Setting out how special occasions such as Christmas and birthdays will be shared between parents, as well as where your child will spend weekends and longer school holidays.

• Addressing concerns over safeguarding issues, which may necessitate a period of supervised or indirect contact.

• Facilitating a straightforward transition between parents or houses – for example, in more complex cases, a neutral location may be needed, potentially under the guidance of a third-party or a Child Contact Centre.

In the process of completing a Child Arrangement Order in Nottingham, you may find that your case requires you to apply for further orders. These can include:

• A Prohibited Steps Order – this is a legal injunction used to prevent things like name changes, relocation in or outside of the UK, matters of medical consent, or contact between your child and a specific individual.

• A Specific Issues Order – this can be used to help both parties agree on subjects like the child’s religion and education. 

Whatever path your situation requires, we will help you to make the most informed and effective choice based on your unique needs to secure the optimal outcome for your child.

Will I always need to apply to the court, or is mediation a worthwhile option?

Mediation tends to be a necessary prerequisite before any further steps towards a Child Arrangement Order. In our experience, it’s best to get the situation sorted quickly and amicably if we can, for the sake of both the child and the parents. However, we appreciate that sometimes this isn’t always possible or appropriate (i.e, domestic abuse cases, etc). 

In these instances, a court application may be necessary, just as it may be if mediation is unsuccessful. If you do have to appear in court, you won’t be alone – our Child Arrangement Order Solicitors in Nottingham will be by your side from start to finish. We’ll take the time to ensure we understand exactly what you’re hoping to achieve before putting forward your case, keeping you fully informed and providing compassionate support throughout.

Why choose Nelsons to oversee your Child Arrangement Order?

At Nelsons, our solicitors have extensive specialist experience in Family Law and Children’s Law, so you can always have confidence that your case is in safe hands. We keep the welfare of your child at the heart of every decision, and all our advice is centred around securing a result that keeps them healthy and happy. Our Child Arrangement Order Solicitors in Nottingham will ensure that all your options are fully explained, making sure you know exactly what we’re doing, as well as why and when we’re doing it.

Our track record speaks volumes, and we’ve successfully helped countless families with our clear, sympathetic, and skillful approach. We’re recognised by both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, and are proud to lend our expertise to even the most complex of Child Arrangement Order cases.

Get in touch with our Child Arrangement Order Solicitors in Nottingham

Making the first step can be daunting, but we’re also constantly working with your best interests in mind, and we want you to be as reassured as possible. Rest assured that we always place your child’s welfare at the centre of everything we do. Whether you prefer to contact us online or speak to someone directly, we’re here to help. You can reach us through our online enquiry form, or by giving our team a call on 0800 024 1976.

If you’re looking to start working towards a Child Arrangement Order in Nottingham, there’s no one better placed to help than a member of our expert team of solicitors. Friendly and empathetic from day one, we’ll immediately get started to ensure the best possible outcome for your family.