Child Law Solicitors in Eastbourne

Separating from your child’s other parent can be hard, and setting new arrangements to establish how they will divide their time between you is not always straightforward. Our child law solicitors in Eastbourne can guide you through this difficult process and suggest solutions that will ensure you and your family secure the best possible outcome.

For many years, Heringtons has provided child law legal advice and representation to families in Eastbourne and beyond. Our team is always understanding and supportive when handling your case.

Our children solicitors in Eastbourne offer all necessary legal services for parents, including:

Child law advice and negotiation
Mediation for child arrangements
Court proceedings to obtain a child arrangements order
Specific issue orders
Prohibited steps orders

Wherever possible, we work to find an out-of-court solution, which is generally faster and less contentious than litigation. We can help you with alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation, when needed.

If court hearings are necessary, we will ensure you have a strong and detailed case and that you are represented by an expert child law advocate.

When you ask us to represent you, we will:

Explain everything clearly and in plain English so that you understand the process
Ensure we are available to speak to you as needed so that you can ring us with any questions you may have over the course of your case
Provide you with transparent cost information, including updates throughout your time with us

Get in touch with our experienced child law solicitors in Eastbourne

For legal advice on child law, contact our solicitors in Eastbourne.

Or fill in our online enquiry form, and we will be in touch shortly.

Our child law services in Eastbourne

Child law advice and negotiation

We will provide you with comprehensive advice about the options available to you and your children and discuss what arrangements you might be able to make for the future.

We can work with you to identify what is most important for your situation and negotiate on your behalf to try and agree on a schedule with the solicitor for your children’s other parent.

If an agreement can be reached, we will ask the court to approve this and seal it, making a binding child arrangements order that you will both be required to follow.

Mediation for child arrangements

If an agreement cannot be reached, the law requires you to consider mediation unless certain exemptions apply, such as there has been domestic abuse in your relationship. We can discuss the potential for mediation, how the process works, and ensure that you have the preparation you need.

Court proceedings to obtain a child arrangements order

If you decide not to proceed with mediation or it is unsuccessful, we can ask the court to make a child arrangements order. This will likely involve the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), who will spend time with you and your family before preparing a report for the court.

For more information, see our child arrangement orders page.

Specific issue orders

If you and your child’s other parent are unable to agree on certain matters, we can ask the court to make a specific issue order, setting out what will happen. Examples of subjects that can be dealt with in a specific issue order include:

Where a child will go to school
Whether a child’s name can be changed
Whether a child can be taken overseas
What medical treatment a child can have
What religion a child will follow
Naming individuals that a child will not be permitted to see

Prohibited steps orders

A prohibited steps order can prevent someone with parental responsibility for your child from taking certain actions. Examples include:

Taking a child out of school
Changing a child’s name
Taking a child out of the country

Where necessary, we can apply to the court for an order stopping something from happening to protect your child.

Frequently asked questions about child law

What is included in a child arrangements order?

You can tailor a child arrangements order to suit your needs and those of your child. Issues that are usually covered include:

Where a child will live and who they will live with
How much time they will spend with their other parent, and when this will be
How they will stay in touch with each parent while they are not together
What will happen during school holidays

How does the court decide who a child will live with?

If the court is asked to decide on the contents of a child arrangements order, it will ask Cafcass to prepare a report on the family to help it make the right decisions. It will always prioritise the best interests of the child. In reaching a decision, it will go through the welfare checklist that is set out in the Children Act 1989, as follows:

The child’s wishes and feelings, considering their age and understanding
Their physical, emotional and educational needs
The likely effect on the child of any change in circumstances
The child’s age, sex, background and any other relevant characteristics
Any harm the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering
How capable each parent and any other relevant person is of meeting the child’s needs
The powers available to the court

The courts prefer that children have a meaningful relationship with each parent. If one parent has taken on most of the childcare to date, then the court may decide that this should continue and order that the child live with them.

What happens if my child’s other parent breaches a child arrangements order?

Both parents are bound to comply with the terms of a child arrangements order. If a breach occurs, it is best to try and talk this through with the other parent, if possible, to understand why it has happened. If the problem persists, you can speak to us about taking enforcement action.

The court will need to be satisfied that there was no reasonable excuse for the breach of the order. If you are successful, there are a range of options available to the court, including:

Making an enforcement order requiring the defaulting parent to do something
Varying the child arrangements order
Requiring the defaulting parent to pay compensation to the other parent for any losses that have been incurred because of the breach, for example, the cost of a trip that has been missed
A referral to a separated parents information programme (SPIP)
A fine
Although rarely ordered, the court can commit someone to prison in the most serious circumstances