Child custody solicitors
Expert legal advice on child arrangements that puts your children first
If you are separating or getting divorced, your children’s welfare will be your top priority – that’s why our child custody solicitors will make it theirs too. We understand that agreeing how you will co-parent your children can be emotional and contentious, but doing so quickly will provide much-needed reassurance and security for your children.
Our expert solicitors can support and guide you through the process, keeping negotiations as amicable as possible and your children’s needs front and centre. Get in touch online or call 0800 422 0123 to book a consultation to find out how we can help.
On this page
- Who our child custody solicitors can help
- Agreeing arrangements for children
- Why choose us?
- Relationship breakdown tool
- Child Arrangements Orders FAQ
Who our child custody solicitors can help
- Parents who are getting divorced, dissolving their civil partnership or separating
- Unmarried parents who are separating
- Step-parents or same sex couples wishing to share parental responsibility of children
- Parents with international interests – we can help with re-location disputes including when a child has been taken abroad without the other parent’s consent.
If you are concerned about child protection, including domestic violence or the risk of child abduction, it’s crucial to seek urgent professional legal advice.
How to agree arrangements for children
Agreeing where your children will live is probably the most important issue to resolve, but it isn’t always easy. Settling how much child maintenance should be paid can also be complicated and stressful. Our child custody solicitors can help you reach a solution that works for both parents and puts your children’s needs first.
There are a number of ways we can help you reach decide how best to move forward:
- Amicable agreement: where you and your ex-partner agree care arrangements for your children between the two of you. An amicable arrangement is often considered more likely to succeed and can be formalised by signing a separation agreement.
- Shared parenting agreement: where you reach a legal agreement on how you are going to co-parent your children. For example, joint custody, where your children have a home with each parent and time with both is determined in the children’s best interests.
- Child Arrangements Order: if you and your ex-partner can’t resolve things amicably, child arrangements can be settled by the Court defining who your child will live with and the arrangements for the parents to spend time with them. The Court can also make decisions on disputes such as schooling, religious upbringing or changing a child’s name – called ‘Specific Issue Orders’. It can also prevent certain actions, such as relocation, with ‘Prohibited Steps Orders’.
Why choose us for your child arrangements?
- Our solicitors take a firm but compassionate approach and always put your children’s best interests first
- Our family law team includes trained family mediators and collaborative lawyers
- As members of Resolution, we are committed to taking a non-confrontational approach to divorce and family matters wherever possible
- Our expertise and quality of service is highly-rated by Chambers UK and Legal 500
- Our fees are highly competitive, and we closely monitor your costs at all times
- We have specialist private wealth and litigation solicitors within the firm, ready to advise you on any other legal issues you need help with
Try our relationship breakdown tool
Our Parting Ways tool is a great first step in guiding you through the legalities of a relationship breakdown. If your marriage, civil partnership or co-habiting relationship has broken down irreparably, our free easy-to-use tool provides an overview of what you need to consider from a legal perspective.
It also provides guidance if you’re already divorced or have dissolved your civil partnership and haven’t yet agreed childcare arrangements.
It only takes a few minutes to complete and you’ll receive a guide tailored to your responses. You will not be asked for any personal information unless you decide you would like to speak with one of our solicitors.
Recommendations
‘This is a team with real strength in depth. They are all experts and provide the highest level of expert advice to their clients. One of the go-to firms in the region for sophisticated clients.’ – The Legal 500 2025
‘An extremely capable team who are close-knit and supportive.’ – The Legal 500 2025
“Clarke Willmott are very well-prepared and give really good advice to their clients.” – Chambers 2025
“Clarke Willmott worked really hard and did not let go. They were creative in coming up with solutions.” – Chambers 2025
Speak to a specialist child custody solicitor today
If you need legal advice on child agreements or custody, call us now on 0800 422 0123 or contact us online to discuss your situation with an expert child custody solicitor.
