If you are finding it hard to get an ex-partner to pay child maintenance, there is good news. The new child maintenance law 2025 gives stronger powers to ensure parents pay what they owe. These changes make it faster and easier for families to get the financial support they need. In this guide, we explain [...]
Divorce is never easy. When you are pregnant, it can feel even more overwhelming. Along with emotional stress, there are legal and financial issues to consider. Many parents-to-be wonder: What happens if I go through a divorce while pregnant? This guide explains pregnancy and divorce in the UK. The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 sets out [...]
When a Cafcass Report is filed in family court proceedings, it can carry significant weight in the judge's decision-making process. If the contents of the report are inaccurate, incomplete or feel one-sided, you may wonder: can you challenge it? The answer is yes. But it needs to be done properly, with the right legal support [...]
It’s a question we hear frequently. The short answer is yes, but with important considerations. Court proceedings involving children should generally be a last resort. However, sometimes their involvement is necessary to ensure their voice is heard in decisions about their lives, especially during parental separation or divorce. Family courts are cautious when it comes [...]
When disputes arise over child arrangements, the C100 form is the starting point for resolving matters through the family court. But the form itself is only part of the picture. Supporting documents can make a significant difference to how your case is considered. Whether you're requesting a child arrangements order, a prohibited steps order or [...]
When parents separate, the Children Act 1989 lets you apply to the family court for permission to make decisions about your child’s life. That's where the C100 form, also called the court form C100, comes in. It’s the C100 application form that you use to request things like a child arrangements order, a specific issue [...]
A Special Guardianship Order gives you legal responsibility for a child who cannot live with their birth parents. It’s a practical, long-term solution that allows a child to remain within their wider family or close network, without the permanence of adoption. This guide explains what a special guardianship order in the UK involves what you [...]
A Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is a legal arrangement in England and Wales that allows someone other than a parent to have parental responsibility for a child. It’s used when a child cannot live with their birth parents but adoption isn’t the right option. Unlike adoption, an SGO doesn’t remove the legal connection between the [...]
When parents separate, deciding where a child will live and how much time they will spend with each parent can be challenging. Many parents reach an informal agreement, but without legal backing, disputes can arise later. A child arrangement order and a consent order ensure these agreements are legally binding, providing stability for the child [...]
When a child cannot live with their birth parents, legal alternatives such as a special guardianship order in the UK or adoption provide long-term care solutions. While both arrangements offer stability, they differ in legal responsibility, parental rights and permanence. Understanding these difference between special guardianship order and adoption can help guardians, foster carers and [...]
