Child Arrangements & Custody Lawyers Telford & Birmingham

A Child Arrangement Order is a legal order made by the family court that sets out important decisions about your child’s care after separation. It can cover:

• Where your child will live
• When and how often they’ll see the other parent
• What other forms of contact are allowed (such as phone or video calls)
• Specific issues, like schooling, travel, or returning a child to one parent
• Restrictions, such as preventing a parent from taking a child abroad

Child Arrangement Orders replaced the old terms “residence” and “contact” orders. They’re now the most common way the court formalises living and contact arrangements when parents can’t agree.

Our Child Arrangement Order Solicitors can guide you through the process, whether you need to apply, respond, or enforce an existing order.

The time it takes to get a Child Arrangements Order can vary depending on your situation. If both parents are in broad agreement and just need the court to formalise the arrangement, it could take a few months. But if there are disagreements over contact, living arrangements or safeguarding issues, the process may take six months or longer, especially if multiple hearings are needed.

The court will always put the child’s welfare first, which means extra steps like CAFCASS reports or mediation may be required.

Our Child Arrangement Solicitors will guide you through each stage of the process, helping you move things forward as efficiently as possible and keeping your child’s best interests at the heart of every decision.

There is a standard court application fee of £232 to apply for a Child Arrangements Order. However, the overall cost can vary depending on how complex your case is. Additional expenses may arise if reports are needed from CAFCASS, expert witnesses, or other specialists, especially in cases involving safeguarding concerns.

At NJP Solicitors, we’ll give you clear guidance on likely costs from the outset. Our Child Arrangement Order Solicitors offer flexible pricing options, and we’ll always discuss our fees with you in your first appointment so you can make informed decisions without pressure.

Before applying to court, there are several steps you can take to try and resolve child arrangement issues more amicably. Mediation is usually encouraged  and in most cases, you’ll need to attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) before making a court application. If court becomes necessary, the process typically involves:

1. Filing a C100 application to start the case
2. An initial hearing to identify the key issues
3. Input from CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
4. Further hearings and evidence gathering if the dispute is complex
5. A final decision by the court in your child’s best interests

The process can take several months depending on how complicated the situation is. At NJP Solicitors, we always aim to resolve matters outside of court first, keeping stress and costs to a minimum. But if a court application is necessary, our Child Arrangements Solicitors will guide you through every step with clear, expert advice.

Yes. In fact, most parents reach an agreement without ever going to court. You can set out arrangements through informal discussion, written parenting plans, or mediation. These agreements can be flexible, but they’re not legally binding unless formalised through a Child Arrangements Order.

Our Child Arrangements Solicitors can help you negotiate terms, draft clear agreements, and avoid unnecessary conflict or court proceedings wherever possible.

The C100 Form is the application form you need to complete if you're asking the Family Court to make a decision about your child’s living or contact arrangements. It’s used to apply for a Child Arrangements Order when parents or carers can’t agree privately or through mediation.

The form asks for details about the child, your proposed arrangements, and any concerns around safety or communication. In some cases, you may also need to include additional documents, such as safeguarding information or a MIAM certificate (proof that you’ve considered mediation).

Our Child Arrangements Order Solicitors in Telford can help you complete the C100 form correctly, advise you on what to include, and make sure the court has all the information it needs to consider your case properly.

The term “custody” is no longer used in family law, it’s now referred to as a Child Arrangements Order, which sets out where a child lives and how they spend time with each parent.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right arrangement depends on many factors, including your child’s age, schooling, living situation, and their wishes (if they’re old enough to express them). The court will always prioritise what’s in the best interests of the child, not simply what either parent wants.

Our expert Child Arrangements Solicitors in Birmingham will help you understand your rights, explore realistic outcomes, and support you in reaching an agreement or applying to court if needed, that’s focused on your child’s wellbeing and stability.

Yes, in most cases, the law supports a child having a meaningful relationship with both parents. Under the Children Act 1989, there’s a presumption that involvement from both parents is in the child’s best interests, unless there’s evidence to show otherwise.

This means that unless there are safeguarding concerns or serious risks, it’s generally expected that children will spend time with each parent in some form. That could include regular visits, overnight stays or indirect contact such as phone and video calls.

Our Child Arrangements Solicitors in Telford will help you understand your options and support you in securing appropriate contact, either through agreement or by applying for a Child Arrangements Order if needed.

Yes, but unlike parents, grandparents don’t have automatic rights. They must first apply for permission from the court to request contact. If permission is granted, the court will then decide whether contact is in the child’s best interests.

Our Child Arrangement Solicitors regularly advise grandparents and extended family members on their rights and how to take the right steps to maintain relationships with the children they love.

CAFCASS stands for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. They are an independent body that advises the Family Court on what’s best for children involved in legal disputes, especially in cases about Child Arrangement Orders.

CAFCASS officers speak to both parents and children (where appropriate) and may prepare a report for the court, outlining the child’s wishes, any safeguarding concerns, and recommendations about contact or living arrangements. Their job is to make sure children’s voices are heard and that their welfare is put first.

Our Child Arrangement Order Solicitors will explain the role of CAFCASS in your case, help you prepare for interviews or assessments, and make sure your position is clearly and respectfully presented throughout the process.

No, you don’t. If you and your ex-partner can discuss child arrangements rationally between you and reach an agreement that you are both happy with, then there is no reason for a Court order to be in place.

However, if communication breaks down or one parent stops following the agreement, you may need to apply for a Child Arrangements Order to formalise contact. This gives your arrangements legal weight and helps avoid further disputes.

At NJP Solicitors, our Child Arrangement Solicitors can help you reach an agreement without going to court wherever possible. But if court becomes necessary, we’ll be with you every step of the way to make sure your rights and your child’s best interests are protected.

If a parent breaches a Child Arrangements Order without a valid reason, the court can step in. This might involve a warning, enforcement action, or even penalties like unpaid work or changes to the order itself.

Our Child Arrangements Order Solicitors can advise you on your options — whether you need to enforce the order or respond to a claim and will support you through the process with calm, practical guidance.

Your ex-partner cannot legally stop you from seeing your children unless there’s a genuine concern that contact would harm their welfare. The law assumes that ongoing involvement from both parents is in the child’s best interests, unless proven otherwise.

If your ex is preventing contact without a valid reason, you can try to resolve the issue through discussion or mediation. But if that’s not possible, you may need to apply to the court for a Child Arrangements Order to secure your rights and establish a fair contact schedule.

At NJP Solicitors, our Child Arrangements Solicitors can help you explore your options, resolve the issue as calmly as possible, and take legal action if necessary, always keeping your child’s wellbeing at the centre of the process.

Your child’s wishes and feelings are important and the court will take them into account, particularly if your child is old enough to express a clear and informed view. However, their preferences are just one factor in a wider assessment.

The court understands that children can sometimes say what they think a parent wants to hear. So while their voice is considered, it won’t be the only thing that determines the outcome. The court’s main priority is always the child’s welfare and that usually means maintaining a meaningful relationship with both parents.

In most cases, contact will only be limited or refused if there are serious concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

Our Child Arrangement Solicitors can help you understand how your child’s views might be considered in your case, and how to make sure their best interests are reflected in any agreement or court order.

If your ex-partner is trying to damage your relationship with your children, it’s important to get legal advice as soon as possible. The longer the issue continues, the harder it can be to rebuild trust and maintain meaningful contact.

In some cases, this behaviour may amount to parental alienation, where one parent deliberately manipulates a child to reject the other. While true parental alienation is rare, the courts take it seriously and early intervention is key.

These situations are often complex and emotionally charged. Our Child Arrangements Solicitors can help you gather evidence, understand your rights, and take the right steps to protect your relationship with your children, including applying for a Child Arrangements Order if needed.