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Sometimes when parents separate, they do not agree where their children should live or how much time they should spend with each parent. This situation can be extremely stressful for the parents involved and potentially harmful to the children involved. We are experienced in negotiating arrangements for children after divorce or separation, including international divorce. We are also extremely experienced in cases which ultimately go to court. Our children law solicitors can help ensure children continue to see both their parents and extended family members. We have a wealth of experience to best meet your family’s needs.
What is a Child Arrangement Order?
A Child Arrangement Order or (CAO) is an order of the family court that specifies who a child lives with, and how much time that child spends with each parent.
- Emotional needs
- Educational needs
- Child’s wishes
- Safety
- The parent’s capacity/ schedule
- Overall impact on the child
Related Children’s Law Services
What to Expect From Our Child Arrangement Solicitors?
The welfare interest of your children must be paramount in any decisions, and if a dispute has to go to court, this will be the guiding principle.
When you go through a family breakdown, it is vital that you make good decisions for your children. There’s a lot to think about and plenty of potential for disagreement about what should happen.
Decisions about where your children should live and with whom (disputes about residence), or who they should see, how often, and for how long (disputes about contact) can provoke strong feelings.
As people become more mobile, there can also be disagreements when one parent wants to move away, either to somewhere else in the UK or abroad.
Parental Responsibility
Not everyone who may want to make major decisions about a child is legally entitled to do this. Parental responsibility isn’t every parent’s automatic right, so you may need to apply to the court for it.
If an agreement cannot be reached, we can guide you through that process.
Our child custody solicitors can also advise you:
- If you are a step parent or other relative looking to acquire parental responsibility for the children you are looking after (see also special guardianship).
- If you share parental responsibility with someone else, you can make some decisions alone (though it is usually best to consult with the other parent and try to agree).
- Some decisions have to be made jointly. This includes any decisions to move abroad or to change a child’s name.
- About shared parental responsibility and how this works.
- Where disputes cannot be reduced, the court has to decide.
Family Disputes
When family disputes are happening, our experienced team can help you with the following:
- If you are involved in a family dispute about a child, we can advise and represent you.
- With mediation and other dispute resolution methods that can help you reach good agreements without going to court.
- If there are serious allegations of domestic abuse, then this will affect how any disputes about your child are dealt with, and you will need specialist family advice. Our team is well-equipped to help.
- Extreme situations where one parent has abducted a child, and emergency action is needed. We can give immediate advice if child abduction is possible or has already happened.
Our child arrangements solicitors can also help if social services become involved and have a large team of experts in advising in these cases.
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.
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 Arrangement Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need A Solicitor For A Child Arrangement Order?
Child arrangement orders can be applied for without a solicitor, however, it’s not advisable due to some situations being more complex than others. It is a legal process that every party has to agree to before the Order is written and in place but often there are disputes along the way, even if it’s not expected. A lot of emotion and distress is often present during this time, due to the circumstances that have prompted the Order to be made.
A Child Arrangement Solicitor will guide you through each step of the process, taking away the additional pressure of negotiation and understanding the legal terms of each stage. A solicitor will also represent you in Court, working with you to get the best arrangements for you and your family.
How Quickly Can I Get A Child Arrangement Order?
Typically, the process for a Child Arrangement Order to be finalised in 6 months – 2 years, however there are many factors that can affect the timescale. Disputes about the details are often the reason why the final Order takes a long time to complete, as there will be multiple Court hearings.
If there are emergency safety concerns, an urgent application can be made to Court. Throughout the process, if any doubts about the child’s safety arise, additional checks will also need to be made before the final Order is issued.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Child Arrangement Order?
Where Legal Aid is not available, we can quote you a competitive price for our work. See our funding guide for more information.
Who Pays For The Child Arrangement Order?
Generally, each parent or family member involved in the proceedings pays for their own legal fees. There are some circumstances where a party can claim from the other to compensate or pay for their costs, however the Court will decide this.
How Many Hearings Do You Need For A Child Arrangement Order?
The general court hearings you need are between 1-3 however, this is very circumstantial. The more disputes are made during the process, the longer the process will take and appearances in court are needed.
What Age Can A Child Have A Decision In Their Arrangements?
Once a child turns 16, they can legally decide which parent they want to live with. In children under 16, the parents have to decide, however during the Court process – the child’s wishes can be taken into consideration, though it’s not the final say.
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