Family
Child custody & access
When a dispute involves children, it is best to seek advice from an experienced child custody solicitor. Howells is here to help.
The solicitors in the Family team at Howells have a wealth of experience in helping families resolve questions surrounding their children’s contact and living arrangements. We have years of experience of advising clients in all types of circumstances including making complex applications to the Court.
Our team will assist you whatever the circumstances and will try and resolve the matter as amicably as possible to minimise the stress on both children and parents.
If you need a family custody solicitor or help with an arrangement, please get in touch today.
How we can help
The Family Court can make several Orders in respect of child arrangements which include a Child Arrangement Order whereby the child lives with one parent and spends time with the other parent.
Alternatively, there is a Shared Care Arrangement whereby the child spends time with both parents.
In addition, where there are serious welfare concerns the Court has the power to make an Order whereby a child does not spend time with a non-resident parent, and we can advise in those specific circumstances if need be.
Our friendly child arrangement solicitors will get to know your family, your needs, and advise you on the process of getting an order. We will apply to the Court and guide you through any reports and necessary paperwork to make the process as straightforward as possible.
In order to obtain a Child Arrangement Order an application has to be made by the Court. The application must be drafted extremely carefully. Under the new pilot scheme which has been introduced in the South East Wales Courts the Court will direct Cafcass Cymru to prepare a Child Impact Analysis Report which will contain a recommendation concerning the child arrangement. Upon receipt of the Child Impact Analysis report the Court will allocate the matter to a track and various directions will be made. If the case is relatively straightforward, then it will be listed for a determination hearing where the Court will hear submissions from the legal representatives and short evidence can be given. Thereafter, a Final Order can be made. If the case is more complex and there are welfare issues, then the Court will list is for on a separate track for more complex direction to be made ultimately with a view to the Court deciding.
The applications to Court in respect of Child Arrangement Orders are becoming increasingly complicated and therefore we recommend that advice is sought at the earliest opportunity to assist you.
