Family law - children

We specialise in:

Residence and contact orders - A Residence order settles with whom the child or children should live. It is rare for a court to separate siblings, but if it is in the children's best interests, they will do so – the court always looks at each child individually.

Care proceedings - Social services may tell you that they are going to start care proceedings, but if they do not, you will find out when you receive a notice from the court telling you when and where the first hearing will be.

Adoption - This is the process by which a child becomes a full legal member of a new adoptive family. When an Adoption Order is made, the child’s legal status within their natural family is terminated.

Parental responsibility agreements and orders - Each parent can generally exercise their parental responsibility independently of the other and there is normally no onus on the parents to consult with the other prior to exercising their parental responsibility.

Representation for parents, grandparents, children and other family members

Same sex couples and parenting - The new law of civil partnerships for same sex partners almost replicates the law surrounding marriage.

Special Guardianship

Legal aid

Children - Government figures indicate that hundreds of children are abducted from Britain every year and taken to foreign countries by one of their parents or guardian without the consent of the other.

Family law - children team

Our experienced specialists understand the worry and distress conflicts involving children can cause and approach all matters sensitively and sympathetically, for the benefit of all concerned.

Deborah Thompson Partner and head of children Deborah specialises in dealing with situations in which social services are involved with children, e.g. care proceedings, adoption (public law) and disputes between parents or other family members (private law).

Pat Wotherspoon Solicitor Pat represents local authorities, as well as parents, children and other family members. Her primary areas of practice include care proceedings, disputes relating to children, contact or residence issues and adoption.

Sally Hibbert Associate Solicitor Sally specialises in advising families in situations where social services are involved, such as care and supervision proceedings, the discharge of care orders and contact with children in care.

Elizabeth Cassidy Solicitor Elizabeth has experience in dealing with all matters arising from family breakdowns, including divorce and separation, financial and property disputes, pre-marital and pre-civil agreements and separation agreements.

Carol Marsh Paralegal Carol specialises in private law children cases, dealing with residence, contact, prohibited steps and specific issue order applications, domestic abuse cases and civil law injunctions in similar circumstances.

Danielle Golland Legal assistant Danielle specialises in private law children cases, dealing with residence, contact, prohibited steps and specific issue order applications, domestic abuse cases and civil law injunctions in similar circumstances.