You & Your Family
You & Your Property
You & Your Business
Our child law solicitors blend expertise and compassion to resolve disputes involving children. We approach each case individually, ensuring the client comes first. Representing parents, legal guardians, family members and children – we focus on the child’s best interests.
What is Child Law?
A child law solicitor specialises in advising and representing parents who need help to ensure the right decisions are reached about their children’s lives so that the children can continue to grow in a safe and loving environment.
Some Key Court Orders:
- If you cannot agree on the arrangements for your children, then you may apply to the court (Form C100) for an order (before you do so you must consider mediation)
- Children Arrangements order: Specifies who the child shall live with (Residence) and what time the child shall spend with the other parent or family member.
- Specific Issues order: Determines an issue such as a change of a child’s name, what school a child shall attend, what medical treatment a child shall receive and whether a child shall be allowed to leave the country on holiday.
Parental Responsibility (PR)
Parental Responsibility (PR), allows all persons with PR to be involved in the important decisions in a child’s life, covering the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities, and authorities which, by law, a parent has in relation to the child and the child’s property. Such as:
- Where a child should live
- Who a child shall spend time with
- Where a child should go to school
- What medical treatment a child shall have
- Changing a child’s surname name
- What religion a child shall practice
- Taking a child out of the country
Related Family Law Services
What to Expect From Our Child Law Solicitors
Our experienced, specialist solicitors are experts in their field and the large team at TV Edwards is nationally renowned for excellence in family law. We will meet with you and talk to you about your situation, your aims and your priorities. You will always be at the centre of your case. We will advise you in a straightforward and clear manner and plan a personalised strategy to solve your legal problem. We will then work with absolute dedication to bring about that resolution.
You can expect our solicitors to provide a kind and empathetic approach by listening to and understanding your needs every step of the way..
Why Choose TV Edwards?
Our specialist family team is top ranked in Chambers UK and highly commended in the Legal 500 2025 legal directories. The department has been recognised in The Times as a top 20 firm for family law in their 2025 guide.
Having a large team of dedicated and specialist solicitors means that we can advise in a wide range of family cases, including divorce, finances and children. Our specialist expert divorce solicitors handle complex cases with significant assets. Our specialist children lawyers are often at the forefront of family law handling groundbreaking cases in the high court and court of appeal. At the heart of every case is the individual we represent.
We are passionate about the work do and are committed to provide exceptional client service to get you the best possible outcome in often stressful circumstances.
Client Testimonials
Child Law Frequently Asked Questions
Why Would You Need A Child Law Solicitor?
Parents cannot always agree what arrangements are best for their children after they separate. Our specialist child law solicitors can help you if this happens. A child law solicitor is often crucial to solving disputes to get the best outcome for the child. When solving complicated or emotional situations in family law, there are many factors why our clients cannot resolve matters without legal intervention. This could be a lack of communication, disagreements on what is best for the child and an unwillingness to resolve matters from one or both parties. By appointing a solicitor, it will reduce the distress commonly caused by cases involving children and help push forward a resolution that considers the child’s best interests.
How Can I Fund My Child Law Legal Case?
We aim to be as transparent as possible when pricing and costs for our child’s legal services. With competitive rates and detailed quotes, we can also advise if you are eligible for legal aid. See our legal funding guide.
Who Has Parental Responsibility?
- Mothers have automatic Parental responsibility.
- Married fathers have automatic Parental responsibility.
- Unmarried fathers who are named on a child’s birth certificate
Parental responsibility can be obtained by PR agreement or an order by the court. The court has to consider the child’s welfare and only make an order if it is in the child’s best interest. The court will consider:
- Child’s wishes and feelings (depending on the child’s age),
- Child’s physical, emotional and educational needs
- The likely effect on the child of any change in circumstances
- The child’s age, sex, background, and any characteristics the court thinks relevant
- Any harm the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering
- How capable both parents are of meeting the child’s needs
- The range of powers available to the court
- There is also a presumption that it is in a child’s best interest to have both parents involved in the child’s life, unless there is good reason for no involvement
Related Articles
Taking Your Child Abroad: A Guide for Separated Parents
If parents are separated, arrangements for travelling abroad can become complicated.
International Family Day: Our family law commitment to you
We stand by families ensuring their rights are protected and their voices heard.
Art as a Matrimonial Asset in Divorce Proceedings
A delicate balance is required in these cases requiring a blend of legal expertise,…
