Children issues (children act matters)
Research shows if issues concerning the children can be agreed amicably and positively between the parties themselves, this benefits the children. The Keelys LLP Family Solicitors offer specialist, prompt and practical support on how to cope with relationship and private law children issues as well as how to resolve them. We have extensive experience in the Law relating to children particularly private disputes between parents and grandparents about matters such as where children should live, what time they should spend with the other parent, specific issues, for example schooling and relocating with the children whether within the UK or abroad.
Parental responsibility
This is perhaps the single most important concept in the Law relating to children. Parental responsibility is a legal term used to describe the responsibility rights and legal authority a person has in respect of a child. Someone with parental responsibility is entitled to participate, for example, in naming the child, in deciding the child’s religion and in taking decisions over the child’s schooling and education.
Where two people have parental
responsibility they are each free to make conflicting decisions and this is a
legal reason why a separating couple need to maintain a good working relationship
with one another where possible taking decisions about their child by
agreement.
Private law proceedings
In Private Law proceedings (between
individuals) rather than Public proceedings (where a child may be taken into
care), the Court’s main powers are to make:-
- A Child Arrangements Order – live with
Order to settle where a child has his/her main home, or whether the child is to
have two main homes based on a shared care arrangement.
- A Child Arrangements Order – Spend time
with Order to settle the arrangements for the children to see the non-resident
parent, or at least to keep in indirect contact with them.
- A Specific Issue Order to settle a
dispute over a particular issue such as education, religion or health or
relocation to either another part of the country or abroad.
- A Prohibited Steps Order to stop a
parent from doing something.
The Law relating to children is governed by the Children Act 1989. The welfare of the child is the guiding principle and any decisions taken by the Court are based on what the Court considers to be in the child or children’s best interest therefore in deciding whether to make an Order, the Court will have regard to the following which is referred to as the welfare checklist:-
- the ascertainable wishes and feelings
of the child concerned (considered in the light of his age and understanding);
- his physical, emotional and educational
needs;
- the likely effect on him of any change
in his circumstances;
- his age, sex, background and any
characteristics of his which the court considers relevant;
- any harm which he has suffered or is at
risk of suffering;
- how capable each of his parents, and
any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question to be
relevant, is of meeting his needs;
- the range of powers available to the
court under this Act in the proceedings in question.
The
main principles behind the law can be summarised as follows:
- The child’s welfare should be the
Court’s paramount consideration;
- Any delay is likely to prejudice the welfare
of the child;
- The Court’s shall not make an Order
unless it considers it would be better for the child than making no Order.
You may find the following websites
useful for further information and guidance:
www.kidsinthemiddle.org.uk
www.cafcass.gov.uk
Family solicitor team
Julie Slater-Williams
Family Law | Head of Department | Associate Partner
Experience
Julie qualified as a Solicitor in 2005. She has specialised in Family Law all through her career, throughout Staffordshire and Cheshire. In 2015, she joined Keelys LLP. Julie is an Associate Partner and Head of Department.
Practice Area
Julie specialises in divorce, co-habitation, financial settlements, and has a particular focus on Children proceedings, having extensive experience in this area.
Qualifications
Solicitor
Interests
Julie is a keen reader, traveller and enjoys spending time with her children doing fun things.
Marie Bell
Family Law | Matrimonial Executive
Experience
Marie joined Keelys’ in December 2013. She has over 18 years experience of working within a family law department. Marie became an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (now known as CILEX Member – Paralegal) on the 1st September 2009 and she obtained her certificate in family law in August 2011. Marie is currently working towards her Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law to become an Advanced Paralegal, with a view to completing the full qualification in due course.
Reporting to
Head of Family Law department: Julie Slater-Williams
Interests
Out of work Marie enjoys the outdoors by volunteering on a Local Nature Reserve, walking and cruising the inland waterways on a narrowboat. She also enjoys wildlife photography.
