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What to consider when discussing child arrangements during divorce and separation

When children are involved in a divorce or separation, there can be many different challenges to face.

As difficult as it may be, it is crucial that you and your former partner work together to come to an agreement which has the best outcome for your children.

While keeping the children’s needs at the centre of all decisions, there are various factors that must also be considered in order to create a healthy and constructive arrangement for everyone involved.

From involving your family members and finding legal resources to understand their emotions, there can be many things to consider when it comes to child arrangements.

What do you need to agree on?

Divorce and separation are never easy experiences, both for the adults who are separating and for the children caught in between.

This is why it’s essential for divorced or separated parents to make sure they agree on the key issues of child arrangements: where their children will live, how much time each parent spends with them, and financial support to ensure their wellbeing.

Making these child arrangements needs to be done with the children’s best interests in mind. If you are struggling to come to an agreement, then mediation should be considered.

Mediation

Making sound decisions concerning arrangements for your children can be difficult and it is important to make sure that everyone involved has their say in the matter.

Mediation can be a great way to discuss child arrangements with your ex-partner during divorce or separation proceedings.

Mediation allows you both to come together in a more relaxed environment and reach an agreement without lawyers or the court becoming involved.

The mediator will be impartial and will create an unbiased atmosphere where you can attempt to reach an agreement.

If mediation doesn’t work

If you are unable to agree on everything through mediation, you can get the courts to make the decision.

You must show that you have attended a mediation meeting before you can apply for the courts, except for in certain cases.

For further advice on child arrangements and divorce, contact us.

Stuart Daniel

Director – Head of Family Department

I qualified as a Solicitor in 2006 and now specialise in divorce, financial settlements, childcare arrangements and Pre Nuptial Agreements. I have many years’ experience as a private family lawyer having worked with two other local firms before returning to Mander Hadley, where I first undertook work experience during my university studies.