When family circumstances change, decisions about children can feel overwhelming. A relationship breakdown or divorce often brings uncertainty, strong emotions, and difficult conversations about where a child or children should live and how time should be shared.
At LSL Family Law, our child arrangement solicitors focus on what matters most. Your children’s wellbeing, stability, and right to maintain meaningful relationships with the people who care for them. We provide clear legal advice grounded in family law, helping parents and, where appropriate, grandparents understand their options and responsibilities without escalating conflict unnecessarily.
Our role is to guide you through child arrangement orders with clarity, sensitivity, and a firm focus on achieving workable, child-centred outcomes.
Cohabitation Process
A Child Arrangements Order is where the child either lives with, or spends time with, the parties in the order. A child should be able to have a relationship with both of their parents.
Increasingly the role of the father is recognised, as is the concept of parental alienation – where one parent tries to remove the other from the life of the child.
The process usually tries to achieve agreement by encouraging mediation first, before making an application to the court process.
You need to consider the Welfare Checklist when looking at the possible arrangements and proposed changes:
the wishes and feelings of your child
your child’s physical, emotional and educational needs
the likely effect on your child if circumstances change as a result of the court’s decision
your child’s age, sex, background and any other characteristics that will be relevant to the court’s decision
any harm your child has suffered or may be at risk of suffering
the capability of you and your ex-partner (or other relevant people) in meeting your child’s needs, and
the powers available to the court.
Get started online today – our child arrangement solicitors help you find clear, child-focused solutions that protect your children’s welfare and give you confidence at every stage.
Children: A Case Study
Problem
A mother removed her daughter from living with her father (my client), claiming there had been domestic violence. However, there was no evidence of this. Initially, the child was not allowed to see her father but, after three weeks, there was supervised contact. This confirmed that she wanted to see her father and that the quality of contact was excellent.
Solution
I brought in an independent social worker to help the girl transition to living with one parent.
I then arranged an urgent application to court. Once the court clearly saw that the allegations against the father were untrue, it ordered that the child should live with her father and have supervised contact with her mother.
Outcome
Although the relationship with her father was initially interrupted, the strong bond she had with him was soon re-established and became even stronger. The final outcome was that the child had limited contact with the mother.
Breach of Child Arrangement Order
A breach of a child arrangement order occurs when one party fails to follow what the court has ordered, without a reasonable excuse. This might include refusing agreed contact, repeatedly returning a child late, or preventing arrangements from taking place altogether.
If you believe there has been a breach of a child arrangement order, it is important to take legal advice early. Not every breach requires immediate court action, but persistent or serious breaches may justify enforcement proceedings.
The court has a range of powers, including ordering make-up time with children, imposing conditions, or in more serious cases, issuing enforcement orders. The focus remains on the child’s welfare, not punishment of a parent.
Find out more about how we work or contact us directly to discuss how a child arrangement order can work for you.
Child Arrangement Orders FAQS
Do child arrangement orders affect child maintenance?
No. Child arrangement orders deal with where children live and how they spend time with each parent. Child maintenance is handled separately and is not decided within these orders.
Can grandparents apply for a child arrangement order?
In some cases, yes. Grandparents may need the court’s permission to apply, but where there is an established relationship, the court can consider arrangements that support ongoing contact.
What if my ex partner refuses to engage at all?
If one party will not engage in discussion or mediation, court proceedings may be appropriate. Evidence of attempts to resolve matters reasonably is often relevant.
Do I need parental responsibility to apply?
You usually need parental responsibility, but some people can apply without it or ask the court for permission, depending on their connection to the child.
Will my child have to speak to a judge?
Not usually. The court may seek the child’s wishes and feelings through professionals trained to speak with children, rather than direct court involvement.
Child arrangement matters are rarely straightforward. They sit at the intersection of emotion, responsibility, and long-term family dynamics. With the right legal support, it is possible to navigate these issues calmly and constructively.
Our child arrangement solicitors are here to help you understand your options, protect your position, and keep your focus on what is best for your children, now and in the future. If you need guidance on child arrangement orders or related family law matters, we are ready to help.
More LSL Family Law Services
Contact Us
If you are in need of family law support, contact us today to arrange an initial telephone or online chat, in complete confidence, with one of our family law solicitors.
We’re here to relieve your anxiety and find the right solution to the problem you’re facing.
We can help you wherever you are based in the UK with our online services. Our family law solicitors are working from offices in Tunbridge Wells in Kent and Eastbourne in East Sussex.
We also have meeting rooms in Brighton and London.