
Child Arrangement Order
These orders can be applied by:
- If you have lived with the child for at least 3 years in the last 5 years.
- The parties to the marriage where the children are a party to the family.
- If you have the consent of all those who have Parental Responsibility (See: the Parental Responsibility section below).
- If there is a Child Arrangement Order in place and you have the consent of all the people, the children live with.
- If the children are in care you can make an application if the Local Authority consent.
These orders can be applied:
1. If you have lived with the child for at least three years in the last five years;
2. The parties to the marriage where the children are a party to the family;
3. If you have the consent of all those who have Parental Responsibility (See: Parental Responsibility section);
4. If there is a Child Arrangement Order in place and you have the consent of all the people the children live with;
5. If the children are in care, you can make an application if the Local Authority consent.
If you do not fall into the above categories, please do not worry as this does not automatically prevent you from making such an application. We would consider the circumstances of your case and where appropriate, we would prepare a formal application seeking the Court’s permission for you to proceed with the application. The Court will consider factors such as the merits of your application, connection to the children and if any such application would cause the children harm.;

Residence Order (inc Shared Residence Order)
This is an Order that settles the issues in regards to who the children should live with.Prohibited Steps Order
This is an Order that prevents (‘prohibits’) the other parent from making a certain decision regarding the children’s upbringing. This would mean that you would be prohibitingContact Order
This is an Order that settles the issues in regards to who the children shall have contact with and what other types of contact are to take place (i.e. phone calls).Specific Issues Order
This is an Order that considers disagreements regarding specific issues about the children’s upbringing. In example, where the children go to school, what religion they practice or whether they should have a specific medical procedureParental Responsibility Order
If you hold parental responsibility you have “all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property”. These types of applications commonly arise for unmarried fathers who want to share the parental responsibility held by the mother.Emergency Orders

Parental Responsibility ('PR')
- Entering into a PR Agreement with the child’s mother - We can draft this for you and have it registered.
- We can obtain a Child Arrangement Order from the Court which can also have the effect of determining who the children are to live and have contact with.
- We can obtain a Parental Responsibility Order.
- Jointly registering yourself on the birth certificate with the mother.

Rights for Grandparents

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Child arrangement orders you can depend on
Obtaining a child custody court order can be an extremely overwhelming experience, full of conflict. We’ll help to remove some of the complication and offer our complete support – all in a bid to minimise stress during what is a naturally difficult situation.
Feel more at ease during the child arrangements process
Going through a relationship breakdown is difficult enough without facing disagreements around a child’s upbringing. Navigating the difficult maze of litigation can make the whole process even tougher, ultimately causing yet more emotional turbulence and uncertainty for your child. That’s why it’s best to seek the help of a child arrangements solicitor.
We’ll take the burden away – negotiating on your behalf as well as dealing with the necessary paperwork. We’ll always try to avoid going to court too, as this can be both financially and mentally draining. It’s for this reason that so many of our clients have managed to settle their situation outside of the courtroom.
We understand that all you want to do is get on with your life and do what’s right for your child. Optimal Solicitors will work in your interests and achieve the best outcome.
Talk to us now
A delay in getting legal aid will only serve to cause you further stress. So start making the steps towards putting an end to the dispute. Begin the conversation today, and with our help, you can start to move on from this situation.
Professional child arrangement solicitors you can trust
Disputes around arrangement orders are incredibly tricky to navigate. We’ll help ease the process, drawing on our years of experience and expertise in this area of family law.
The types of cases we’ve dealt with include:
- Child arrangement orders – These set out who a child lives and spends time with, as well as the amount of time spent with each parent. We’ll help resolve more particular matters too, like where a child goes to school (a ‘specific issue order’), or prevent a parent taking a disputed action (a ‘prohibited steps order’).
- International issues – If a child is removed from the jurisdiction without consent, then it’s classed as child abduction and an offence. There can be a real clash of differences as to where to bring up a child, so we’ll make sure you can present the best case to the family court.
- Urgent or emergency court applications – For situations where you need instant support, we can help you establish if emergency action is needed and guide you through it too. While urgent cases are very rare, the court may have to grant either an urgent or emergency order after only hearing from one parent. If you’ve been served with one of these orders, we can also assist you here.
We’ve helped thousands of people, just like you, get the best outcome
Why Optimal Solicitors
It’s not easy for anyone to sort out a dispute with their ex-partner, especially when children are involved. So we’ll take the hassle away, representing you in discussions and working hard to resolve the situation.
Your needs will be considered at every step of the process. This includes if you’d prefer to get legal advice in your native language, or want any supplementary support from our network of specialists (including rehabilitation experts and therapists).
FAQs
It’s a prerequisite to first go to a mediation before applying for a child arrangement order. Here, an alternate resolution is sought. If no agreement is reached at a mediation, then you can apply for a court order.
It’s important to note that, in some situations, a mediation wouldn’t be appropriate (for example, in domestic abuse cases). In instances like these, you may not need to attend.
Put your child’s interests first with Optimal Solicitors
We’ll do what it takes to get the very best outcome for you and your child. Speak to us today for a free consultation, and discover exactly how we can support your specific requirements.