The court system in England and Wales is an adversarial system, meaning that parties become two opposing sides, presenting their case to a judge for a decision. This approach can, unfortunately, create or amplify conflict, lead to expensive legal costs on both sides, as well as heavy emotional cost.  

Separating from your partner can be a difficult time, filled with emotional and logistical challenges, especially when children are involved. Navigating the complexities of child arrangements can be daunting, making it difficult to find common ground.

The breakdown of a relationship is invariably a challenging time for all involved, particularly when there are children involved. This is where a well-considered Parenting Plan comes into play, providing a structured approach to addressing any issues that may arise and facilitating a collaborative co-parenting environment.

Frequently I am asked whether a parent has rights in respect of their child and what this means for them as a parent. Simply, there will be a question about whether the parent has Parental Responsibility and if they don’t, how they can get it.

Are you dreading making arrangements for Christmas contact with your former partner? As the festive spirit approaches, Gemma Stevens shares how making plans early can help reduce the risk of conflict ruining the holiday periods.

The majority of family lawyers can safely say that they entered the profession in order to help unhappy people out of unhealthy situations. Family Law involves assisting people when they feel at their most vulnerable. When you feel stressed, upset and aggrieved, sensible decision making may not be at the forefront of your mind and this is why it is really important that you are properly supported from the outset.

With a change in the modern day family dynamic, devoted step-parents are recognised as an integral part of a child's life, providing love, support, and care every step of the way. Introducing: step-parent adoption. Step-parent adoption offers the opportunity for this nurturing relationship to be legally recognised, granting you the legal status of parent.

Communicating with your ex-partner is never something that is easy after you have separated. Conversations can sometimes be tense, emotional and draining. Most people’s instinct is to cut all ties but this is often not possible if you share children with your ex. This makes communication essential but nonetheless daunting for many.

A common question I am asked is whether a parent has Parental Responsibility for their child and what this means for them as a parent. If they don’t have it, they want to know how they can get it.

Parental alienation is a term that would cause many separated parents to raise an eyebrow in confusion. Its name is not part of everyday understanding of family law; people don't know what it is. In my experience, parental alienation's best described as a feeling. And it’s a feeling many parents will have experienced without knowing its name.

Parental alienation is, for want of a better word, terrifying. It is something we sincerely hope you never have to experience. The long-term effects on the children and the alienated parent can be really damaging. In short, parental alienation is where a child – either intentionally or unintentionally – becomes distanced from one parent without a good reason. This can be because they’re coached to dislike the other parent. It can also happen because they have repeatedly overheard negative conversations about that parent.

Where parents share parental responsibility for a child, and there is no order in place stating where the child lives and what time the child spends with the non-resident parent, it can sometimes occur that the ‘non-resident parent’ takes steps to keep the child in their care, against the wishes of the resident parent. This can be a very upsetting and anxious time.