In some circumstances parents are restricted to supervised contact with their children following a divorce or separation. This blog explains what supervised contact is and why you may have been asked to do it. Supervised Contact Supervised contact is used when it has been determined by a court that a child is at risk of […]
What is an online divorce?
People are often concerned about the cost of a divorce, and can be attracted by claims in search engine results for ‘cheap online divorces’. We’ve even seen companies claiming they can do an online divorce for £37. These adverts are misleading because, firstly, everyone must pay the £550 divorce fee, whether they do it online […]
Can you deny child access until a DNA test is completed?
It is becoming increasingly common for fathers to have to take a DNA test to prove they are (or are not) the biological father. This often happens during maintenance disputes, but what happens whilst this is getting resolved. Can you deny child access until a DNA test is completed? Parental Responsibility In England and Wales, […]
What is Parental Responsibility?
When a relationship involving children breaks down, most parents will immediately think about how this will affect their children; where will they live, who will be the main carer and how will they maintain contact with both parents. How this is decided depends largely on who has Parental Responsibility. What is Parental Responsibility? In England […]
Wells Burcombe recruits new Head of Family Department
Wells Burcombe is delighted to announce the appointment of Safeena Tufail as Head of its Family Department. Before joining Wells Burcombe, Safeena worked at several well-regarded law firms and since qualifying as a solicitor in 2005, she has dealt exclusively with family law. Safeena represents clients in connection with a broad range of family law […]
Can I take my child on holiday without my ex’s permission?
We always advice that at the beginning of the school year you sit down with your ex and discuss holidays; who will be taking your child on holiday, when and where. It is always better to try and come to an amicable arrangement, but this is not always possible. Therefore, we are often asked ‘can […]
What is an emergency custody order?
An emergency custody order or Emergency Protection Order, as it is officially known, is a temporary order granting limited Parental Responsibility to whoever applied for the order, or the right to remove a child from where they are. Courts do not grant Emergency Protection Orders easily, they generally prefer children to maintain contact with both […]
Can I get joint custody if we are not married?
More often than ever we are being asked by fathers “can I get joint custody if we are not married?” For the first time ever, more unmarried couples with children are breaking up than married couples with children. Married fathers feel more confident in achieving joint custody than unmarried fathers. However, the truth is unmarried […]
Can my ex stop me from seeing my children?
One of the most common questions we are asked is; ‘can my ex stop me from seeing my children?’ In short, your ex cannot legally stop you from having access to your children, unless a court has decided it will be of detriment to your child’s welfare. However, it is important to understand the law […]
What is joint custody?
Joint custody is known by many names including shared custody and shared residence, but the official term is joint residence. Joint residence refers to an agreement that a child lives with both parents after a separation. The common assumption is that time is split either 50/50 or the child lives with one parent during the […]
