At WTB Solicitors LLP we believe that understanding your rights and responsibilities towards your children is important. Our specialist children law solicitors will assist you to achieve the best possible outcome for your children. One of the primary concerns for parents involved in relationship breakdown is what will happen with the children
This can be a very difficult issue to tackle when coming to terms with the emotional fall out of separation. With the passage of time the best solution is being able to reach an amicable agreement about spending time with the children and with whom the children will live but this is not always possible.
Involving the Courts should be viewed very much as the last resort but to assist at a time when it is difficult for you to communicate face to face with your partner mediation and collaborative law provide a neutral environment which may help you to reach an agreement.
When determining issues that affect children the Court considers a range of factors known as the welfare checklist which can be summarised as follows:
- The ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child
- Any physical, emotional and educational needs
- The likely effect of any change of circumstances
- Age, sex, background and any relevant characteristics
- Any harm suffered or at risk of suffering
- How capable each parent is of meeting the child’s needs
- The range of powers of the court
Disputes About Children
We will always try to encourage and assist parents to deal with the arrangements for their children without the need for court proceedings. We will always enter into negotiations in a positive and child-focused way. Our solicitors will advise you about the benefits of mediation to try and help you achieve an amicable agreement. Our solicitors will guide you through the legal process and explain your options to you. Contact us now to make the first step for help with:
- Child arrangement orders
- Parental responsibility
- Enforcing a child arrangement order
- Varying a child arrangement order
- Child abduction
- Contact with grandchildren
- Special guardianship
- Adoption
- Paternity
- Changing a child’s name
- International proceedings
- Financial provision for children
Child Care & Adoption
WTB Solicitors LLP are a law firm looking after every family. The Head of Family, Elena Waddell, has been representing parents and children involved in care proceedings for over three decades. She is an experienced and passionate lawyer who will always work hard to secure the best possible outcome for her clients. She has earned a strong reputation in the North West and has built a team of specialist care lawyers who share her determination.
We regularly help parents facing social services involvement with their children or care proceedings. We have put together a list of frequently asked questions to help you but it’s always better to be able to talk to someone so feel free to contact our expert law team.