Child Law Solicitors

Child Law Services We Offer in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham

Our children law solicitors advise parents, grandparents, guardians and other family members at every stage of a child law matter, from everyday arrangements to court proceedings. Here’s where our team can help; each area links through to more detailed guidance.

Child Arrangements and Parental Responsibility

A Child Arrangements Order is a Children Act 1989 court order deciding who a child lives with and how much time they spend with each parent. It replaced the old ‘residence’ and ‘contact’ orders in 2014, though existing orders remain valid and don’t need replacing. We help separating parents agree workable arrangements directly, and represent clients in court where that isn’t possible. We also advise on parental responsibility, including how unmarried fathers, step-parents and others can acquire it. Read more on our Child Arrangement Order Solicitors page.

Special Guardianship and Adoption

A Special Guardianship Order gives a carer, often a grandparent or other relative, day-to-day parental responsibility for a child without permanently removing the birth parents’ rights. Adoption goes further, transferring parental responsibility permanently. We advise family members considering special guardianship, prospective adopters, and birth parents affected by adoption proceedings, including step-parent adoptions.  Read more on our Adoption Solicitors page.

Care Proceedings and Child Protection

Care proceedings begin when a local authority applies to court over concerns about a child’s welfare. These are public law matters, and Legal Aid is often available, sometimes without a means test, for parents and others with parental responsibility. We represent parents, grandparents and other family members throughout, including at contested hearings and applications to discharge a care order. Read more on our Care Proceedings Solicitors page.

Parental Alienation and High-Conflict Cases

Parental alienation describes situations where a child’s relationship with one parent is undermined, deliberately or otherwise, often during high-conflict separations. These are some of the most sensitive cases in family law. Our children team is led by Melanie Bridgen, a Law Society Children Panel member with over 20 years’ experience, who regularly advises on parental alienation, coercive control and other safeguarding concerns. Read more on our Parental Alienation Solicitors page.

Child Abduction, Relocation and International Families

Child abduction cases involve a child removed from, or kept outside, the UK without proper consent, and can engage the 1980 Hague Convention where the other country is a signatory. We also advise parents relocating abroad with a child after separation. Read more on our Child Abduction Solicitors page.

Grandparents, Wider Family and Modern Families

Grandparents don’t have an automatic right to apply for contact, but can ask the court’s permission to seek a Child Arrangements Order; courts weigh the grandparent’s existing relationship with the child and the reasons for any current lack of contact.

We also advise same-sex parents, step-parents, and those building a family through surrogacy or fertility treatment, reflecting the many shapes a modern family can take. Read more on our same sex familiies page.

How the Children Law Process Works

Every family’s situation is different, but most children law matters follow a similar path. Here’s what to expect, shaped by our Client Service Charter.

1. Your first conversation – We’ll listen to your situation and objectives, explain your options in plain English, and agree a clear scope of work with a choice of pricing options, so you know what’s covered before anything starts.

2. Trying to reach an agreement – Most parents attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) before applying to court, a requirement in place since 2014. Mediation can resolve many disputes faster and more cheaply than court, though it isn’t required or appropriate where there’s a history of domestic abuse or child protection concerns. Because several of our specialists are also Resolution-accredited in domestic abuse, we screen every enquiry for safeguarding concerns before recommending mediation.

3. Court application, if needed – Where agreement isn’t possible, we’ll prepare the right application, whether a Child Arrangements Order, Special Guardianship Order or another Section 8 order. Cafcass or the local authority may prepare a welfare report, with your child’s welfare as the court’s paramount consideration throughout. Timeframes vary considerably by court and case complexity, so we’ll always give you a realistic estimate for your circumstances rather than a generic one.

4. Staying informed – You’ll have a named contact with a direct dial and mobile number, and we’ll acknowledge calls and emails within 24 hours. We’ll update you at regular intervals, even without significant developments, and every matter is supervised by a Partner or Legal Director.

5. Reaching a resolution – Many children law matters conclude by consent, without a final hearing. Where a hearing is needed, we prepare thoroughly and represent you robustly, aiming for an outcome that protects your child’s welfare and gives your family a clear, workable way forward.

Why Choose Nelsons for Child Law Advice

Our reputation in children law comes from decades of casework across the East Midlands and independent recognition from the legal directories. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Ranked Tier 1 by The Legal 500 for family law in the East Midlands, with the team also recognised by Chambers and Partners for public and private children law.
• Led in children law by Melanie Bridgen (Derby), Band 1-ranked by Chambers, a Legal 500 Hall of Fame lawyer and Law Society Children Panel member, alongside Emma Davies (Nottingham), who heads our wider Family team.
• Team includes Resolution-accredited specialists in children issues, domestic abuse and financial remedy proceedings, plus Law Society Family Law (Advanced) Panel members.
• Legal Aid available for many parents and family members in care proceedings; for other matters, we agree a clear scope and choice of pricing upfront.
• Every matter supervised by a Partner or Legal Director, backed by Lexcel-accredited quality standards.
• Nelsons is part of Lawfront, a national group of regional law firms. Together, our family law teams total over 100 specialists and hold 8 Legal 500 rankings nationally, including 3 Tier 1.
• Over 40 years serving East Midlands families, with offices in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham for face-to-face meetings.

Our team can provide support and representation to all family members regarding children law issues, whether you’re a parent, grandparent, guardian or another family member or friend; we can help. Our Family Solicitors understand the importance of a child’s well-being and safety and will fight to ensure the best outcome for you and your child.

Please note that we can only advise on a Legal Aid basis for public law/care proceedings.

Ready to talk through your situation? Get child law advice today on 0800 024 1976 or via our online enquiry form. Our solicitors in Nottingham, Leicester and Derby are ready to help.