Your Child Custody Experts

Child arrangements done properly, with your children's future at the centre of everything.

Whether you are separating from a partner or dealing with a dispute over existing arrangements, the decisions made about your children's lives deserve careful, experienced legal guidance.

At Manak Solicitors, we help parents reach arrangements that put their children first, and we make sure those arrangements are properly protected.

What Child Arrangements actually involve

The term “child custody” is one most people recognise, but it is no longer the language English family law uses. Courts now talk about child arrangements, which is a broader and more accurate description of what is actually being decided. It covers where a child lives, how much time they spend with each parent, how decisions about their upbringing are made, and the involvement of wider family members such as grandparents.

These decisions are rarely simple. They involve two people who are going through one of the most difficult periods of their lives, trying to make long-term plans for children whose needs will change as they grow. Getting legal advice early helps you understand what the process involves, what outcomes are realistic, and how to approach conversations with the other parent in a way that reduces conflict rather than adding to it.

The vast majority of child arrangements are reached by agreement between parents, sometimes with the help of solicitors or a mediator. Court proceedings are a last resort, not a starting point, and we work hard to resolve matters before they reach that stage.

Child arrangement matters that we advise on

Living arrangements and where children live

Deciding where a child lives after a separation is often the most emotionally significant issue for both parents. We help you understand the options available, including sole and shared living arrangements, and work towards an outcome that reflects your child’s needs, their existing routines, and their relationships with both parents. Where agreement cannot be reached, we can apply to the court for a child arrangements order on your behalf.

Visitation and contact schedules

A well-structured contact schedule gives children stability and gives both parents clarity. We help families put arrangements in place that work practically for everyone involved, taking into account school terms, holidays, special occasions, and the age and preferences of the child. Where contact has broken down or is being withheld, we advise on the steps available to restore it.

Parental responsibility

Parental responsibility is the legal right to be involved in decisions about a child’s upbringing, including schooling, medical treatment, and religious observance. Not all parents have it automatically, and understanding what it means in practice is important. We advise both mothers and fathers on their rights and responsibilities, and can help resolve disputes where parents with parental responsibility cannot agree on significant decisions.

International travel and relocation

If you want to travel abroad with your child or relocate permanently to another country, you will generally need the consent of anyone with parental responsibility. Where that consent is refused, a court application may be required. We advise parents on both sides of these situations, whether that is supporting a relocation application or opposing one, and we understand how significant and time-sensitive these cases can be.

Grandparent and family contact

Grandparents and other family members do not have an automatic legal right to contact with a child, but the courts do recognise the value of those relationships. Where contact is being prevented and informal approaches have not worked, we advise on the process for applying to the court for a contact order. We handle these cases with sensitivity, understanding that they often arise in circumstances that are already painful for everyone involved.

Varying existing court orders

Children’s lives change, and arrangements that worked well at the time they were made do not always remain appropriate. If you need to vary an existing child arrangements order because of a change in circumstances, we can advise on whether an application is likely to succeed and guide you through the process. We also advise parents whose former partner is seeking to change arrangements they are happy with.

What to know before you get started

The court’s focus is always the child, not the parents

Family courts make decisions about child arrangements based on what is in the best interests of the child. This is not the same as what either parent wants or feels is fair to them. Understanding this from the outset helps you approach the process more constructively and with more realistic expectations of what the court is likely to decide.

Agreement is almost always better than a court decision

Arrangements that parents reach together tend to be more flexible, more durable, and less damaging to the parental relationship than those imposed by a court. They are also considerably faster and less expensive to reach. We always look for a negotiated route first, and we only recommend court proceedings when they are genuinely necessary.

You do not need to wait for things to become a crisis

Many parents come to us only after a situation has already deteriorated significantly. Getting advice early, even before a formal dispute has arisen, gives you more options and more time to reach a good outcome. A single conversation with one of our solicitors can help you understand what is possible and how to approach the other parent in a way that reduces conflict.

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What to expect when you work with us

Child arrangements cases are among the most emotionally demanding matters we handle, and our family law solicitors have been handling them for over twenty years. In that time we have worked on cases ranging from straightforward separations where parents need help formalising an agreement, through to protracted disputes involving serious welfare concerns, international relocation, and court proceedings at every level. That range of experience matters because no two families are alike, and an approach that works in one case can be entirely wrong for another.

We are also very deliberate about keeping cases out of court wherever we can. Court proceedings in children matters are slow, expensive, and take a significant toll on the parents and, more importantly, on the children caught in the middle. We work hard to find a negotiated or mediated resolution first, and we are honest with our clients about when that is realistic and when it is not. If court proceedings do become necessary, we prepare our clients thoroughly and represent them clearly at every hearing.

Something we hear consistently from clients is that they felt supported throughout the process, not just at the key legal moments. Child arrangements cases can drag on for months, and the periods between hearings or negotiations can feel particularly anxious. We stay in contact, we respond promptly, and we make sure our clients always know where things stand and what is coming next.

Manak Solicitors holds Lexcel accreditation, the Law Society’s quality standard for practice management and client care. It is independently verified and covers everything from how we handle your case to how we communicate with you. Combined with our offices across Kent and London and the option of remote appointments, it means expert advice is accessible wherever you are and whenever you need it.

Local & Accessible

With offices in Sevenoaks, Orpington, Gravesend, London, and Biggin Hill, we are never far away. For those who prefer speed and convenience, our secure online systems- including our trademarked Instant Instruct tool- allow you to begin your case entirely online, without ever compromising on personal service.

Lightning.

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Child Arrangement Questions

What is the difference between child arrangements and custody?

Custody is an older term that is no longer used in English family law. The current framework uses child arrangements orders, which set out where a child lives and how much time they spend with each parent. The change in language reflects a shift away from thinking about children as belonging to one parent, and towards a framework that recognises the importance of both parents in a child’s life.

Do mothers automatically get residence of the children?

No. English family law does not give either parent automatic priority. The courts make decisions based on the best interests of the individual child, taking into account factors including the child’s existing relationships, their age and wishes, and the ability of each parent to meet their needs. Both parents are treated equally as a starting point.

What happens if one parent refuses to follow the agreed arrangements?

Where a court order is in place and one parent is not complying with it, there are legal steps available to enforce the order. We advise on the options, which range from a formal warning to the court imposing sanctions in more serious cases. If arrangements are informal rather than court-ordered, this is one of the reasons we often recommend formalising them properly from the outset.

Can children decide where they want to live?

The views of children are taken into account by the court, and the weight given to those views generally increases with the age and maturity of the child. However, a child’s preference is one factor among several, not a deciding one. Courts are also careful to make sure that children are not being placed in a position where they feel responsible for the outcome.

Do I have to go to court to sort out child arrangements?

Not necessarily, and in most cases you will not need to. The majority of child arrangements are reached by agreement, either directly between parents or with the help of solicitors and mediators. Before making a court application, most parents are now required to attend a mediation information and assessment meeting to explore whether mediation is suitable. We can advise you on this and on all of the steps involved.

What if there are concerns about a child’s safety?

Where there are genuine concerns about a child’s safety or welfare, the approach is different and the urgency is greater. We can advise on the steps available to protect a child quickly, including emergency applications to the court where necessary. If you are concerned about a child’s immediate safety, please contact us as soon as possible.