Links
Financial Applications for Children
Relocating Abroad with Children
Parenting Arrangements for Lesbians and Gay Men
Legal Paternity after Sperm Donation
Support
Resolution booklet “Separation and Divorce” text-only version 
“My family’s changing” for younger children
“My family’s changing” for older children .
If you cannot view pdf files, download Adobe Acrobat Reader
here for free:
Children
For most families with children, they are the focus of the family and the main issue of concern when couples separate.
In this section there is information about:
- the general principles about parental
rights, what orders a court can make and how the court approaches
decisions on a child’s welfare and then in particular some
orders the court can make about
- residence and
- contact;
- the concept of parental responsibility;
- the court procedure for a typical application
for residence, contact or other such orders;
- legal paternity after sperm donation;
- surrogacy:
- support for parents in separation.
Elsewhere on this website you will find information about:
- children and finances:
- international issues:
- parenting arrangements for lesbians and gay men:
When disputes arise in relation to children, emotions can be very high and often parents feel very strongly that they have been treated unfairly or that they have the welfare of the child at heart, but the other parent does not. Sometimes there is no alternative to court proceedings. However, the problem is that in some way both parents will have to co-parent for years to come, at least until the child is 18, but often beyond that. If there is great animosity, a young adult will sometimes face the question of which parent to invite to their wedding, excluding the other, or whether to invite both and risk a family row on their big day.
It is therefore always worthwhile at least to pause and step back and see whether an alternative approach is not possible. Since the questions are often more of a practical and psychological rather than legal nature, mediation often works well, as does collaborative law. Parents and children can benefit from support at this time.
For advice on your specific circumstances contact Andrea Woelke at Alternative Family Law: ring us on 020 7407 4007 (+44 20 7407 4007 from abroad) or email us (stating your full name, the full name of the other person in your case and your telephone number on which we can call you).
Please note that we do not have a contract to take on cases on legal aid. If you think you may qualify for legal aid, please use the online calculator to check, or contact a solicitor who has a legal aid contract.
April 2012
Next: parental responsibility
divorce |
separation |
civil partnership |
children |
finances |
international |
mediation |
collaborative law
© Andrea Woelke 2009
3 Southwark Street, London SE1 1RQ, T: +44 20 7407 4007
email us
Disclaimer
This is an outline of the law, practice and procedure in England and Wales. It should not be taken as specific advice. All families and couples are different. The law may have changed since this was written and we therefore accept no liability for inaccuracies. Where examples are given, your personal circumstances may vary slightly, but the difference may be significant for the outcome of the legal process. Contact us for specific advice on your own circumstances.
We take no responsibility for the content of any web pages linked to outside Alternative Family Law.