Child Contact Disputes

When parents separate decisions need to be made about where their children will live and how much time they will spend with each parent.

Formerly called “access” or “contact”, the current legal terminology is “child arrangements to spend time with” a parent.

If parents are unable to reach a mutual agreement about spending time with their children, mediation or the collaborative law process may assist them to resolve their differences and reach an agreement. However if this is not possible either parent can make an application to the Family Court for a Child Arrangements Order to spend time with their children.

Contact schedule

Ideally parents themselves, or the Family Court (if no agreement can be reached and a court application is made), will draw up a schedule of the days and times when children will spend time with their parents, which can include weekends, holidays, birthdays and Christmas.

Alternative arrangements

In some circumstances arrangements to see a child may be granted subject to special restrictions. These include:

• Restricted contact– the non-resident parent’s visitation may be restricted for reasons such as the child’s age, medical conditions (either the child’s or non-resident parent’s), because the non-resident parent is confined to an institution, for example, due to mental illness or because of issues arising from domestic violence.
• Supervised contact– generally speaking a court will order supervised contact if the parent poses a danger to the child. This type of contact involves the parent spending time with the child in the presence of a third-party supervisor.
• Overnight contact– if there are legitimate concerns over allowing overnight visitation with the non-resident parent, a court may choose to prohibit this type of visit.

When can a parent be denied contact?

The non-resident parent will usually be able to have the opportunity to see their child unless granting contact is deemed not to be in the child’s best interests. The best interests of the child are the court’s primary concern. A parent may be denied such contact because, for example:

• They have a history of alcohol or drug abuse.
• There is evidence of domestic violence or abuse committed against the child, a sibling or the other parent.

Can contact be changed?

Yes. If either parent feels the existing contact arrangements are unsuitable or inefficient, they can request to change those rights via the Family Court. We can provide you with advice and assistance In relation to making such an application.

What is parental responsibility?

Parental responsibility refers to the legal rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority for a child and their property. Parental responsibility gives the parent the right to make decisions about the child’s care and upbringing.

When a married couple separate or divorces, both parties have parental responsibility for any children born to that marriage. If the couple is unmarried, only the mother has automatic parental rights. However, the father will have the same automatic parental rights (and thereby a legal right to see his child) if the child was born on or after 1 December 2003 and he is named on the birth certificate or if both parents have signed a parental responsibility agreement. A court can also grant parental responsibility to the father.

In addition, it is possible for step parents to acquire parental responsibility either by agreement or a court order.

In any case, the non-resident biological or adoptive parent is equally responsible for the financial welfare of his children and the Child Maintenance Service, a government agency responsible for calculating and collecting child maintenance, may facilitate this contribution. (Please note that the Child Support Agency, or CSA, may handle older cases and ceased operation in  2017.) Find out more about child support and maintenance.

Parental consent

The law in England and Wales states that consent of both parents with parental responsibility (and anyone else with parental responsibility) is required before certain steps are taken, such as changing a child’s name, emigration, circumcision or sterilisation. Only those with parental responsibility (see above) can give parental consent.

Medical consent

Two key points to bear in mind about medical consent are:

• A court can overrule a decision by a parent to refuse medical consent if the treatment is thought to be in the child’s best interests.
• Provided one parent with parental responsibility gives consent for treatment, the healthcare professionals can proceed with treatment, even if the other parent has declined to give consent.

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