Children Act cases

There may be many different reasons why you may need to consider obtaining advice regarding your children.

We provide specific advice in terms of many issues, disputes and disagreements relating to children when parties separate and our intention is make such advice child focused but to also take into account the specific circumstances regarding the children and their parents for each individual case. These can include:-

Contact (sometimes referred to as access) – the intention is to try to agree both positive and realistic opportunities to enable a named person to spend an agreed amount of time with a named child, this will often be between parents but can also be relevant to relatives and friends as well.

Residence (sometimes referred to as custody) – this is to try to resolve disputes at to where children should be settled bearing in mind that often children will often need to stay in more than on household as their family circumstances change. It is quite possible for parties to agree and for Orders to be made in respect of shared residence.

Specific Issue – there may be certain issues that parents have not been able to agree, for example, on schooling or religion and that such issues may therefore need to be resolved.

Prohibited Steps – there may be a need to stop a party from doing something relating to their children for example, to prevent one parent from changing the child’s surname or to prohibit a child being moved abroad without all relevant parties’ consent.

Leave to remove (out of the jurisdiction) – where it is a parties’ intention to move abroad with a child as part of an international relocation, it is important to consider the implications of this to that child but also the other parent. Such issues can also involve a removal of a child (often referred to as abduction and consideration should be made of the Child Abduction Act 1984). It may also be necessary to obtain the approval of that parent (providing the written consent of each person who has Parental Responsibility) either by way of a Declaration or Court Order. We have a considerable amount of experience on this areas of law.

Parental Responsibility – it is important to be aware of your responsibilities surrounding your children. We can advise on the various methods of obtaining Parental Responsibility.

Finances – dependant upon the circumstances of your case, you may need to consider not only child maintenance but other financial applications for the benefit of your children under the Children Act 1989.

Disputes between parents can be resolved by various means and you may need to consider the following options:-

a. The kitchen table
b. The Traditional Court route
c. One of you has legal representation whilst the other does not
d. Mediation
e. Collaborative Law

Please see link to Resolving Family Disputes for more information as many of the issues raised relating to finance will also be relevant to disputes surrounding your children.

At all stages the welfare of children is the first consideration and we will look at ways of trying to facilitate practical ways of resolving difficulties which involve your children.

Anthony Raumann offers a fixed fee initial meeting of one hour to discuss your personal circumstances, your options and your next steps, at a cost of £95.00 ( inc VAT) , followed by a free letter of advice.

Anthony will meet you in our Reading Berkshire office. If you would like to meet with Anthony, please telephone the office so that an appointment can be arranged.

Due to the impacts of Coronavirus and government guidance, our Fixed Fee Meetings will occur as telephone meetings.

Anthony Raumann is a specialist member of Resolution (the family law practitioners’ national organisation). Anthony has many years’ experience as a family solicitor and handles cases ranging from issues involving children to cohabitee disputes and medium to high net worth divorce cases for UK and EU clients. He has a calm, analytical and sympathetic approach with clients and provides realistic advice to achieve lasting solutions to emotionally fraught and complex issues.

If you would like to get in touch with Anthony about your family enquiry please get in touch with him by email [email protected] or call him on 0118 958 9711.