Children Matters

Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of divorce and separation. Both parents will naturally be concerned and have thought long and hard about the effect on their family. In all matters relating to children, the welfare and interest of the child is of paramount importance and comes before anything else. Your children will be going through the upset of seeing their family break up; not an easy thing to deal with.   The trouble is, if parents let their own bitterness get in the way of compromise when it comes to raising their kids, it can make things even worse.

Proctor Moore encourages parents to try to come to a sensible arrangement for the best interest of the children. It is to the advantage of everyone involved, and part of our professional duty, to try to settle any disagreements out of court. Mediation can often help parents to keep calm and productive discussions ongoing.   We can also help you in the negotiating process on access arrangements for your children and a range of other concerns, and where appropriate record any agreements made thus helping your family to keep the emotional impact to a minimum.

There are however situations where mutually acceptable agreements simply cannot be reached. Where it is not possible to come to your own arrangements, Proctor Moore can apply to the court for the following applications to be issued:

• Residence Order (Custody)
• Contact Order
• Parental Responsibility
• Specific Issue Arrangements as to School/ Holidays/Weekends etc.
• Prohibited Steps Order

Disagreements that occur generally relate to contact and child support issues. It is usually in the interest of both you and your partner to come to an agreement out of court. At the end of a relationship, both biological parents are legally responsible for supporting their children financially, regardless of whether or not the couple were married and regardless of with whom the children will live. Step-parents and adoptive parents may also have financial responsibilities for their children or their partner's children depending on a number of other legal factors.

At Proctor Moore Solicitors we know that each individual situation is different. We can help by listening sensitively to your circumstances and giving you confidential, straightforward legal advice. This way you can come to terms with the emotional issues involved and weigh up the options that will work best for you and your children.