Anthony Collins Solicitors supports families through relationship breakdowns and can help with legal advice regarding childcare and access arrangements.
If your relationship breaks down, and your have children, it is natural for you to want to ensure their physical and emotional well-being is taken care of. We have a specialist family law team who are experts in private childcare arrangements.
In these situations, we work with parents to help them reach a mutual agreement, either as a solicitor or through the mediation process. If the result is that court is necessary, we work closely with parents representing them through the court process to achieve a child-focused outcome. Typical types of private childcare arrangements include:
- Where the child/ren will live;
- The time a child/ren will spend with each parent;
- What school the child/ren will attend;
- Decisions to be made about medical procedures;
- Parent asking for additional financial support;
- Issues that impact on the child’s or children’s day-to-day life; and
- Taking the child/ren out of the country.
You can find out more about how we can support with childcare arrangements during a relationship breakdown here.
What is a parenting plan?
A parenting plan is a documented agreement between parents, following a relationship breakdown; it can sometimes involve grandparents too. It is set out in a way that puts the child at the centre and is focused on their needs and best interests. The parenting plan outlines the future shared commitment between parents (and sometimes grandparents) to their children/grandchildren, including:
- Health and well-being;
- Education;
- Finances;
- Living arrangements – who the child will live with, when, for how long, and how often;
- Communication between all parties involved; and
- Religion.
For more information on parenting plans
Cafcass represents children in family court cases and make sure that children’s voices are heard and decisions are taken in their best interests. They are independent of the courts, social services, education and health authorities. Cafcass has produced a helpful guide on parenting plans, which you can access here or on their website here. You may also find their Separated Parents Information Programme documentation helpful, which can be found here.
If you need legal support or advice, regarding a relationship breakdown, private childcare arrangements or parenting plans, please contact Chris Lloyd-Smith.
*Cafcass owns full copyright of the Parenting Plans document on the right-hand side of this page. It is listed here to help our clients understand the process more easily.
For further information
To find out more about how we can be your family mediator, please contact a member of our mediation team: Chris Lloyd-Smith or Maria Ramon.