Child Law

With offices across Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, including Lincoln, Grimsby and Hull, our professional and caring solicitors can help.

Child Law Solicitors

Our team of child law solicitors at Bridge McFarland LLP understand how important it is to protect the needs and interests of a child and how stressful disputes involving children can be.

There are also instances where children need to be safeguarded from abduction and child abuse and, in some cases, protected by the courts.

When resolving children matters, the focus will be the welfare of the children and ensuring that whatever steps are taken will be in their best interests.

We have a dedicated team of specialist child law solicitors at Bridge McFarland LLP. We are on hand to offer expert advice and guidance in this complex and sensitive area of law. We can represent you in all aspects of Private Law Children Act work, including contact matters, residence, parental responsibility, and specific issues. We can also represent you in all aspects of public law proceedings.

Child Law Solicitors Lincolnshire

When a relationship breaks down, we understand that the children involved are the most crucial element. If you cannot reach an agreement with the other party, we are here to provide you with advice and assistance on the most appropriate way forward for all involved.

Our team of experienced childcare solicitors includes solicitors who are Children Panel Members and can therefore represent not only parents but also children themselves. Children can instruct us through their Children’s Guardian appointed by the courts or directly if they are of sufficient age and have the mental capacity and understanding to do so. Our instructions come not only from parents and children but also from Children’s Guardians employed by CAFCASS (the ‘Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service’).

Based in Lincoln and Grimsby, we are situated in easy-to-reach locations and can help clients across Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire.

Our Childcare Law Services

Bridge McFarland LLP’s childcare solicitors are primarily involved in public law cases. These are cases in which the local authority social services department often seeks to intervene in a family’s life by placing children in care or with other family members. The team has become increasingly involved in private law cases where there are disputes between parents over contact and residence or other matters, and the court orders that the child be independently represented by him or herself.

We can assist in various child law issues and have the experience to know how to handle matters considerately and sensitively. We can help with child law matters including but not limited to:

Childcare proceedings
Parental Alienation
Child Arrangements arising from breakdown of marriage
Wardship cases
Child abuse

Legal aid is available on a non-means, non-merits, tested basis in proceedings brought by the Local Authority care order and supervision order applications. Legal aid is also available on a non-means, non-merits, tested basis in certain abduction cases. Our team will work with you to ensure you are fully aware of all the steps involved, guiding you on your options, including your eligibility for legal aid.

This area of work is incredibly stressful and potentially heart-breaking for many of our clients. Accordingly, we strive to offer not only the best possible legal advice but also the support and help often needed by our clients to get through a challenging time in their lives.

Get in touch with Childcare Solicitors today

If you think that we can help you or someone close to you we will be happy to arrange a preliminary meeting, just get in touch.

Other Legal Services

We can also provide specialist legal advice on other areas of law that may be relevant when dealing with a child law matter, such as Divorce and Separation, Financial matters, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Estate Management, and Conveyancing.

Find a Family Solicitor Near You

Read our Child Law FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about Child Law

How easy this is to do and how to do it will depend on who has parental responsibility and whether all parties agree to the change. If all parties with parental responsibility have provided written agreement to the change this can be done easily via a Change of Name Deed. If one parent refuses, a Specific Issue Order will need to be obtained from the Court.

If your ex has parental responsibility, you cannot generally stop them from seeing your child without a Court Order in place. An exception to this would be if there are serious concerns about the child’s welfare or safety in which case, you should seek legal advice. If they don’t have parental responsibility, they do not have an automatic right to have contact with your child and would need to get a Court Order to do so if you don’t agree.

A Prohibited Steps Order is a court order which prevents a parent or guardian from taking specific actions regarding a child without the court’s permission. Examples include taking a child abroad and removing a child from school.

A Child Arrangements Order sets out where a child will live, who they will spend time with, and how contact will take place after parents separate or divorce. You might need a Child Arrangements Order if there is a disagreement between parents about where a child will live or when, where and how often contact can take place.

A Child Protection Plan is a plan put in place by the Local Authority to set out the action which is needed to reduce your child/children suffering harm. Under this plan a social worker is allocated to you and your family and regular meetings will take place (at least every 4 weeks) to review the plan and the progress which has been made.

This is a package of support which is put in place to provide extra support for your child/children and your family to address any areas of need and risk assessed by a Social Worker.

This is for families who might need a little extra support and is a group of people (including professionals, e.g; health visitors / social workers / teachers etc) who will work together to support you and your child/children to prevent any concerns increasing.