Contact with children
The court can make permanent, temporary, interim or emergency orders regarding contact with children:
- Contact Order: enables the child to visit, stay over or have contact with the named person (usually the absent parent).
- Prohibited Steps Order: prevents a person doing something, such as removing the child from the country, without the consent of the court.
- Residence Order: decides who a child lives with.
- Specific Issues Order: determines how issues will be dealt with when the people with parental responsibility cannot agree.
The most important matter to which the court is bound to have regard is the best interests of the child. This includes:
- The child’s wishes and feelings
- The child’s physical, emotional and educational needs, and the ability of each parent to meet them
- The effect of any change in circumstances
- The child’s age, sex and background
- Any mental or physical abuse
For more information on any of our services for families, please contact us.