Child Access & Relocation Lawyers Telford & Birmingham

If you're a parent, you have the legal right to maintain a meaningful relationship with your child after separation and the family court will usually support contact that’s safe and in the child’s best interests. There’s no fixed rule for how contact should work, but both parents are expected to encourage regular and positive involvement.

If communication breaks down, Child Access Solicitors can help you agree on a clear contact plan or apply to court for a Child Arrangements Order. This can set out when and how contact takes place, including overnight stays, weekends, holidays, and virtual contact.

If your child’s other parent is stopping or interfering with contact, you don’t have to accept it. If you have a court order in place, you can apply to have it enforced. If not, legal advice can help you take action, through negotiation, mediation, or applying for an order.

Our experienced Solicitors for Child Access can support you at every stage, from reopening communication to taking the matter to court where needed. Courts take breaches seriously and can issue warnings, vary orders, or impose sanctions if a parent repeatedly breaks them without a valid reason.

If a Child Arrangements Order is being breached for example, if contact is being denied, restricted, or changed without agreement, you can apply to the court to have it enforced. The court will assess whether the breach was intentional and if enforcement is in the child’s best interests.

The process can include formal warnings, additional contact being awarded to the affected parent, or, in serious cases, fines or community service for repeated breaches. Working with a Child Access Solicitor gives you the best chance of resolving the issue quickly and effectively while keeping the focus on your child’s wellbeing.

Last-minute cancellations can be deeply frustrating, especially when they disrupt your time with your child or cause emotional stress. If it’s happening regularly, it may amount to a breach of your contact arrangements.

A Child Access Solicitor can help you take action by reviewing the current agreement and advising whether it needs to be formalised or enforced. Inconsistent contact can be harmful for children and the court will take repeated disruption seriously if the matter goes to enforcement proceedings.

There’s no fixed definition of “reasonable contact”,  it depends entirely on the child’s needs, their age, the distance between homes, and how involved each parent has been. For many non-resident parents, reasonable contact might include alternate weekends, midweek visits, half of school holidays and regular phone or video calls.

The key is consistency and stability. If you're unsure what’s fair in your situation, speaking to a Child Access Solicitor can help you understand your rights and negotiate a clear, workable routine that suits everyone, especially the child.

If a child is refusing contact, it’s important to explore the reasons calmly and sensitively. Children may resist for a range of reasons, from emotional loyalty conflicts to practical discomfort and it’s vital to avoid placing blame too quickly.

That said, if a parent is influencing the child or creating barriers, the court may intervene. A Solicitor for Child Access can help assess the situation, gather appropriate evidence if needed and advise on the next steps, whether that’s mediation, safeguarding input, or applying to vary the contact order.

In England and Wales, there’s no specific age when a child can legally choose who they live with or have contact with. However, once a child is around 12 or older, their wishes may carry more weight, especially if the court believes they’re mature enough to express a clear and independent view.

Ultimately, the court’s priority is the child’s welfare, not just their preferences. If disagreements arise, a Child Access Solicitor can help you navigate this sensitively, ensuring your child’s voice is heard while keeping their best interests at the centre of any decision.

Relocation within the UK doesn’t require formal permission by law, but that doesn’t mean a parent can simply move a child without discussing it. If the move would significantly affect contact or disrupt the other parent’s relationship with the child, it can be challenged in court.

If you’re facing this situation, or considering a move yourself, it’s important to get advice early. Our Child Relocation Lawyers can help you understand your rights, challenge a proposed move, or make an application to relocate lawfully and responsibly.

When one parent wants to move abroad with a child, the court must give permission before the relocation can take place, unless both parents agree. International relocation cases are carefully assessed, with the court looking at factors like the child’s welfare, the reasons for the move, the impact on the child’s relationship with the non-moving parent and whether contact can realistically continue.

If you're applying to relocate or trying to oppose a move, it's essential to get early legal advice. Our Child Relocation Lawyers can help you prepare a strong case, making sure the court has a full picture of what’s best for the child.

Moving a child abroad without the other parent’s permission, or without a court order,  is a serious legal matter and may be considered child abduction under UK law. Even relocating within the UK without proper discussion can result in legal action if it disrupts an existing contact arrangement.

If this has happened, or is about to happen, our Child Access Solicitors can take urgent action to protect your parental rights and get the child returned. We also advise parents considering relocation to ensure the correct legal process is followed from the outset.

In relocation cases, the court will want clear, practical evidence about how the move will affect the child. This can include plans for housing, schooling, emotional support and how contact with the other parent will be maintained. The moving parent must show that the relocation is in the child’s best interests, not just their own.

Our Child Relocation Lawyers can help you gather the right documents, present your case clearly and challenge any proposed move that could negatively affect your relationship with your child.

A Prohibited Steps Order is a legal tool used to prevent a parent from making certain decisions about a child without the court’s permission. This can include stopping a relocation, preventing a name change, or blocking overseas travel.

If you’re concerned that the other parent might move your child without agreement, our Child Access Solicitors can help you apply for a Prohibited Steps Order quickly, giving you peace of mind and legal protection.

If you have a Child Arrangements Order stating that the child lives with you, you can usually take them abroad for up to 28 days without consent, unless the order says otherwise. For longer trips, or if there's no order in place, you’ll need the other parent’s written permission or a court order.

Holidays within the UK don’t usually need consent, but it’s always best to inform the other parent to avoid disputes. If disagreements arise, our Solicitors for Child Access can help clarify your position and avoid last-minute problems.