Our Services
Child Arrangements Applications
This is an application to set out the arrangements for your child. It is made under S8 of the Children Act 1989; There are various applications within this to include where the child shall live (lives with order), how much time he or she should spend with the other parent (spends time with order), arrangements for Christmas, birthdays and school holidays can all be included.
Specific Issue Applications
This does exactly what is says on the tin. It is an application to the court to deal with a specific issue relating to your child or children. Often relates to matters of schooling, travel abroad, change of name and medical interventions.
Prohibited Steps Applications
This is an application to prevent a party from doing something with regards to the child. More often than not it is made on an emergency basis to stop a child being removed from a country, removed from their current school or home town. It can be used to prevent a parent from allowing a child to have contact with a specific person that may be a risk.
Special Guardianship Applications
This is an application to formalise an arrangement whereby a close family member or friend has taken over the care of a child and wishes to obtain parental responsibility and have full legal rights and obligations to that child. The person applying must inform the relevant local authority of their intention to apply and give them 3 months to prepare a report before the application to the court can be made.
Non Molestation Orders
Occupation Orders
This relates to the home and is an application for one party to be prevented from living there due to their behaviour. It can also be used to set up zonal areas of use of the property if you have to remain living together but need some form of protection and space from each other (for example different times to use the kitchen).
Divorce Proceedings
Issuing your divorce petition either individually or jointly. This is now relatively straightforward and most people do it themselves online.
Consent Order and Financial Agreements
If you and your ex partner have provided full disclosure to each other and you have reached an agreement regarding your finances it is important that this agreement is set out in a consent order and filed at court, prior to obtaining your final order (decree absolute). We can assist in drafting the relevant documents setting out your agreement that the court will require. If you have a memorandum of association from a mediator we can draft the documents using that information. Please note we can not advise on the financial agreement, we can only draft the documents inline with what you tell us is agreed.
Appeals
To appeal a family court decision you must act quickly. If it is a case management decision you only have 7 days, If a final order you have 21 days. You can not appeal just because you do not like the decision. There must have been an error in law or a fundamental mistake made.