In Part 1, we covered some of the most common questions about child law and what parents need to...
When questions about children arise following a separation or within family life, they often become the most pressing and emotionally charged issues to resolve. At Roythornes, our dedicated children law solicitors in Nottingham provide sensitive yet practical advice, helping families navigate disputes and reach solutions that focus on the welfare of the child above all else.
We are known for handling matters ranging from day-to-day parenting arrangements to complex disputes involving relocation, international considerations, or social services involvement. We also boast a superb international children law team who can support you with cases involving contact, residence or relocation outside the UK.
We recognise that this is an anxious and uncertain time for many parents, guardians, and relatives. Rest assured that, throughout your case, you will have direct access to an experienced solicitor, ensuring clear guidance and steady support at every stage.
Our aim is always to reach a fair and workable agreement through constructive negotiation or mediation. If this cannot be achieved, our Nottingham team includes accomplished advocates who will present your case firmly and strategically in court, ensuring your child’s interests remain at the forefront.
If you need trusted advice from Nottingham children law solicitors, contact our Nottingham office.
Our Nottingham children law solicitors can assist with all kinds of family matters, including:
- Child arrangement orders
- Child access and residence
- Child support and maintenance
- Parental responsibility
- Specific issue orders
- Prohibited steps orders
- Special guardianship orders
Our children law services
Child arrangement orders
Child Arrangements Orders provide a legal framework for where a child will live and how much time they spend with each parent. These orders can also address wider issues such as holiday contact or the introduction of new partners.
We guide parents through the application process and represent them in hearings if necessary. Our focus is on achieving workable arrangements that allow children to enjoy consistency and maintain strong relationships with both sides of their family.
Our solicitors will explain your options clearly, whether that involves reaching a voluntary agreement, negotiating terms through mediation, or applying to the court where a resolution cannot otherwise be found.
Maintaining meaningful relationships with both parents is usually in the best interests of a child. However, where communication has broken down, disagreements about spending time with a child/children can quickly escalate. We help parents find constructive solutions that reflect the child’s needs, taking into account school commitments, routines, and the practicalities of travel.
Where living arrangements are contested, we can assist in preparing the strongest possible case to demonstrate what arrangement will provide the most stability. In more complex situations, such as where one parent proposes to move abroad or relocate within the UK, we can carefully advise on the legal steps required to protect your child’s wellbeing.
Our nationally recognised international children lawyers can also assist you with child arrangements when a parent lives outside of the UK.
Child support and maintenance
We advise on child maintenance issues, whether handled through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) or negotiated directly between parents.
In higher-income cases, or where there are significant assets, the court can order additional provision to meet the child’s needs. We provide clear, pragmatic advice to ensure that arrangements are proportionate, sustainable, and in the child’s best interests above all.
Parental responsibility
Parental responsibility provides the legal authority to make decisions about a child’s upbringing, including education, religion, medical treatment, and where they live. For married parents, this responsibility is automatic, but unmarried fathers and others may need to secure it through agreement or court order.
We support clients in making Parental Responsibility Agreements or applying to the court for a Parental Responsibility Order. Our child law solicitors also advise stepparents, same-sex partners, and grandparents who may need legal recognition of their role in a child’s life, or who are struggling with a dispute against another parent.
Specific issue orders
Specific Issue Orders are used to resolve particular disputes where parents cannot agree. Common examples include where a child should attend school, whether they can undergo a medical procedure, or whether a holiday abroad is appropriate. These orders provide clarity and prevent disputes from escalating further.
Our team helps clients gather the necessary evidence, prepare applications, and present their case in court. We ensure that the child’s welfare is central to the decision-making process and that any order reflects their best interests while balancing the rights of both parents.
Prohibited steps orders
Sometimes urgent action is required to prevent a parent or guardian from taking a particular step without agreement. A Prohibited Steps Order can stop a child being removed from school, moved to a different location, or taken abroad without consent.
We act swiftly in these situations, often securing emergency orders to provide immediate protection. Our child law solicitors in Nottingham are experienced in preparing applications at short notice and representing parents in contested hearings, ensuring that the child’s security and routine are safeguarded.
Special guardianship orders
A Special Guardianship Order provides long-term stability for children who cannot live with their parents. It gives a guardian (often a foster parent or carer) greater legal authority than a parent, without severing the child’s legal ties to their family entirely.
We advise prospective special guardians on the process, eligibility, and implications of such an order. Our children law solicitors in Nottingham also represent parents who wish to contest applications. With sensitivity and care, we ensure that decisions are made to secure the child’s future while balancing family relationships.
Our family law solicitors’ fees
We know that certainty about costs is essential. From the outset, we will give you a clear picture of the likely fees and will provide updates as your case progresses, so you don’t face any unwelcome surprises.
For more information about fees or to request a tailored quote, please contact us.
Why choose Roythornes’ children law solicitors in Nottingham?
Families across the region trust our Nottingham-based children law solicitors for their expertise, discretion, and commitment to child-focused outcomes. We are experienced in a full range of children law matters, from everyday arrangements to highly complex disputes. We have a dedicated divorce team for resolving child disputes following a separation.
We prioritise negotiation and mediation, saving families time, expense, and unnecessary conflict. Moreover, our team are skilled advocates with the ability to act decisively where urgent applications are required, with particular expertise in complex international child law.
We truly approach every case with empathy and determination, ensuring your child’s welfare is always the priority. At Roythornes, our family law philosophy centres around building long-term relationships with our clients, providing support not only for the immediate issue but also for your family’s future.
In addition to our Nottingham office, Roythornes have branches in Alconbury, Spalding, Langham, and Birmingham.
Contact our children law solicitors in Nottingham
If you need expert advice or representation in relation to children law in Nottingham and the surrounding area, please contact our Nottingham office.
