Children

Legal disputes involving children can be emotionally charged. It is always best to avoid litigation if possible but sometimes, if mediation fails, a court is the only place that can decide key issues. Your problem might involve contact, parental responsibility, residence, removal from jurisdiction, parentage or adoption.

The links below provide information and resources in relation to legal disputes involving children.

If you can’t find what you are looking for why not try our legal answers service or speak to a barrister.

Legal Resources

www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk
Free, confidential and independent legal advice paid for by legal aid accessible by telephone, online, through digital TV, centres and networks.

www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/family.htm
Family advice and assistance from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

www.cafcass.gov.uk/
Cafcass looks after the interests of children involved in family proceedings, advising the courts on what they consider to be the best interests of individual children.

www.adrnow.org.uk/
ADR is alternative dispute resolution – a range of options for resolving disputes without going to court. ADR includes mediation, adjudication, arbitration, conciliation and ombudsman schemes. The ADR Now website gives an overview of ADR schemes in the UK, an outline of how they work, and an honest appraisal of their pros and cons.

Adoption
www.adoption.org.uk/information/adoption_law.html
Information on adoption law.

Parentage
http://csa.gov.uk/en/case/disputing-parentage.asp
Disputing parentage advice from the Child Support Agency.