Knowledge and resources

This guidance refers to proceeding with any court order that involves children. For example this can include who the child is going to live with, resolving disagreements such as which school the child will go to, emergency orders etc.

I believe the culture of parental contact has gone too far, and by urging courts to grant it, we as practitioners are in many cases risking the safety of children and the other parent

A call to action on the needs of children caught in the crossfire when their parents separate

Exploring out of court dispute resolution and how this can enhance your practice

Supporting parents to separate better

Our Parenting After Parting Committee sat down with Sir James Munby to bring you a special two-part podcast.

Parenting Plans help clarify important details of life post-separation – but can also help the parents establish their new relationship

This booklet, available to purchase in print or download as a PDF, is designed to be a useful resource giving tips, support, information, signposting and help to parents embarking on or already separated

YRes CONFERENCE 2022: This workshop shared experiences and top tips from representatives of the Family Justice Young People’s Board, and looked at how the Family Lawyers’ Charter encourages practitioners to work collaboratively and in a joined-up way

The object of all dispute resolution is to clarify facts and narrow issues. The use of experts may be considered in child-related situations, including proceedings. Those involved in assisting parties, including the court, may be helped by an expert’s findings in relation to injuries or medical complaints, psychological problems including attachments, or even how children have reacted in a supervised contact centre.

This is a checklist of the main points a solicitor or direct access barrister should bear in mind when accepting instructions from a LiP. It begins with general issues and is then divided into sections according to the stage of the proceedings.

In my mediation practice, from the very first meeting, I encourage separated parents to put the children’s needs first. We use a range of resources including, of course, the Resolution “Parenting through separation” guide. In particular I encourage them to consider attending a Separating Parents Information Programme (SPIP).

This thought-provoking seminar was hosted by Dr Angharad Rudkin, a clinical child psychologist at the University of Southampton. She was joined by Ruth Hawkins, a partner at Boardman, Hawkins & Osbournes LLP, which specialises in private children law.

Covid-19 vaccination for school-age children is a potential minefield for separated parents, schools, local authorities, and ultimately the courts. There are a number of elements to hold in mind.

In Re X (A child acting by her Children’s Guardian) v Y (Restraining abuse of Children’s Guardian) and Z, Mr Justice MacDonald had to weigh up the competing principles of freedom of speech and respect for private and family life. This involved using “the ultimate balance test”.

In this workshop a panel of Alex Verdan QC, Charlotte Bradley and Dr Mark Berelowitz, chaired by Simon Blain, provided a fascinating and extremely useful insight into high-conflict parental disputes from their wide-ranging perspectives.

It’s a Friday at 5pm, you’re in the office (pre-pandemic), the phone rings and a client says their kids have been taken…

This was the scene set by Simon Craddock (Brethertons) and Laura Morley (4PB) to start off their workshop looking at emergency private children cases where one partner unilaterally removes the children.