Matters of dispute and decision processes touching the children are some of the most sensitive in the family law. We understand that all children are entitled to stability, care and protection and that all parents should be treated fairly and represented in First Law Solicitors.
Our highly qualified family and child law lawyers offer professional advice and representation to those cases involving children and child care issues such as child custody and residence, adoption and parental responsibility. Each case is handled professionally, discreetly, and with the strong desire to have the outcomes that are based on the best interest of the child.
In the UK family law, the welfare of the child is considered the core of all legal rulings, and thus, children issues are regulated by the Children Act of 1989. Not only do the courts put into consideration the right of parents but the emotional, educational and physical welfare of the child.
Cases of children and parenting can be as a result of the breakdown of a relationship, or may be as a result of adoption, guardianship, or the issue of parental responsibility.
In the First Law Solicitors, we assist with all the children law proceedings with a thorough approach to the matter of offering a straightforward direction and a tender but strict representation to the family.
The most prevailing problem that parents encounter regarding the separation or divorce is who will take custody of the child and the amount of time that he or she will spend with each parent.
A Child Arrangements Order commits what has been in effect a custody or a residence and contact order. It specifies:
Our solicitors assist parents to bargain and formalise fair arrangements either by mediation or by appealing to the Family Court where the need be. The primary objective that we always seek to achieve is to reduce conflict whilst keeping in mind the best interest of the child.
In case of a failure in the agreement, our child custody lawyers prepare solid legal points using evidence to ensure a stable and equitable solution of the child.
Parental responsibility (PR) is a legal right and responsibility of the parents with regard to the upbringing of their children, which entails making decisions regarding the upbringing of their children, such as:
The parental responsibility is inbuilt in mothers. Fathers will have PR in case they are married to the mother or the father of the child is listed in the birth certificate of the child (born after December 2003). Unmarried fathers also have an opportunity to gain PR by agreement or a court order.
First Law Solicitors assist parents to acquire, exercise or dispute parental responsibility. You are looking to establish yourself or need to contest the right to make a decision but in either case, our team would make sure that that legal position is clear and secured.
Child maintenance is the money that is paid by one of the parents to the other to assist him/her in meeting the daily living expenses of the child such as food, clothes and accommodation.
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) normally makes calibration on the basis of:
Though the CMS can be involved with the major part of routine cases, complicated financial issues may need legal intervention. The services of our child maintenance solicitors help in:
We make sure that the children are given reasonable support and parents do perform their legal duties in a fair and sustainable way.
The arguments between parents on where a child ought to reside or the frequency with which they ought to visit a parent may be emotionally distressing to them both.
A residence order is a determination of who a child can live with majorly. Mostly, courts promote shared parenting, although this should be in the best interest of a child.
Contact orders are defined as the time and type of contacts that a non resident parent will have with the child. This may be weekend stays, holidays or through virtual contact.
When possible, our solicitors strive to reach a negotiated and amicable resolution to it through negotiation and mediation. In cases of disagreement, however, we have strong representation of clients in court to make sure that the child is not compromised on matters of safety and wellbeing.
Adoption and guardianship offer legal safety and security to children whose birth parents are not available to take care of them. These procedures are under rigid laws to maintain the interest of the child at each level.
Adoption places permanent parental responsibility on the adoptive parents as opposed to the birth parents. Our adoption solicitors help future parents through each part of the process which includes:
We are also capable of ensuring that all the legal requirements are satisfied and that the process is done in a smooth and legal manner.
A guardianship order is an appointment of a person to take care of a child in cases where the parents could not take care of them, as a result of sickness, death, or incapacity. Our attorneys assist customers to set up legal guardianship and administer all the accompanying papers and court cases.
A Special Guardianship Order provides a safe and long-lasting placement of children who are not able to stay with their birth parents, yet do not have the need to be adopted.
we advise relatives, foster carers and other applicants on matters relating to how to apply to an SGO and represent them in court. All the assessments, reports, and parental consents are well handled by our solicitors in order to reach a legally sound conclusion.
In a more globalised society, the conflict might occur in cases where one parent desires to move on a child within the UK or to other countries.
International Relocation and Domestic Relocation.
Our attorneys deal with the applications to and objections to relocation and assist parents in the legal aspects and court conditions.
In case of international relocation, we meet the Hague convention on child abduction which safeguards the rights of both parents, and the child.
The social services can be a daunting experience when they are introduced to your family. Our child protection attorneys offer real-time legal counsel and advocacy to cases involving:
We strive diligently to protect your parental rights and at the same time, the well being of the child must be a priority in the process.
Step-parents are known to have a crucial role in the life of a child. We can help step-parents to make an application to the court to have a parental responsibility or child arrangements order to formalise their legal relationship with the child.
Under some conditions, grandparents are entitled to seek contact orders in case they have been denied access to the grandchildren. Our solicitors will offer sympathetic advice during the application procedure and will defend you in court in case of a family court.
Parenting conflicts do not all require court rooms. Through mediation they provide a guided and confidential environment through which parents make mutually agreeable arrangements.
Our lawyers make our clients undergo the mediation process and collaborative law to promote the use of open communication and prevent the use of expensive litigation. In case a consensus is achieved, we assist in formalising it with the help of legally binding consent order.
At First Law Solicitors, we are trying to make complex legal processes simpler and offer practical, compassionate and efficient solutions to the clients.
Our Services Include:
We are sure that all families must have a chance to solve the conflict and save the emotional health of their children.
Specialized Family Law Expertise: Our solicitors possess comprehensive knowledge on all matters of children and parenting law of the UK.
Accredited and Regulated: We are wholly governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which includes professional excellence.
Client-Centered Service: We provide a clear and practical advice based on the needs of your family.
Clear charges: No sheriffs ransom: we give advance prices.
Established History of Success: We have been involved in intricate cases on family law which is a measure of our devotion and dedication.
At First law Solicitors, we know that cases that involve children do not only need legal skills to resolve but also empathy, patience and the desire to save relationships within the family where possible.
In case parents are unable to reach a compromise, the Family Court may decide by passing a Child Arrangements Order as to which parent the child spends time with and how long.
Yes. The court makes a decision on the best interests of the child and not gender. In case the father is capable of proving that the full custody is in the best interest of the child, he can be given primary residence.
Parental responsibility can be obtained by an unmarried father through either naming on the birth certificate, signing a PR agreement with the mother or through the court via PR order applying.
Child Maintenance Service may collect payment by deduction of wages or by way of law. Our lawyers would help to claim the unpaid maintenance under right legal procedures.
It is based on the case, and the state of disagreement of the parents. Small cases can be solved in several months and disputed issues might require time.
Yes. The grandparents may request the Family Court to allow them to apply to the court requesting a contact order in case they have a defined relationship with the child.
Adoption is a process of permanently transference of the parental rights and guardianship involves the legalization of taking care of a child without total termination of the parental rights.
International relocation must involve consent or court approval of you. Our solicitors will assist you in objecting or seeking permission so that your parental rights will not be violated.
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