Children Law Solicitors
If you are in a dispute about where your child lives, the time they spend with each parent, or a decision affecting their upbringing, our highly experienced, sensitive Children’s Law Solicitors can advise and represent you.
Disputes about children are among the most personally demanding situations a parent can face. The decisions made in these proceedings, whether by agreement or by the court, will shape your child’s day-to-day life for years. Getting proper legal advice early gives you the best chance of reaching arrangements that work for your child and that both parents can commit to, while ensuring you are fully prepared if the matter does need to go to court.
Law Lane Solicitors was founded in 2015 and operates from offices in Stratford, High Holborn, and Croydon. Our Children’s Law Solicitors’ experience includes child arrangements disputes (custody and access disputes), relocation cases, and applications for the immediate protection of children. Our full range of family law services is available on our website. We also hold a Family Law accreditation from the Law Society, which illustrates the depth of our knowledge and expertise.
We are one of the very few law firms in England and Wales with solicitors, solicitor-advocates, and barristers working under one roof. In children’s cases, which can require court attendance at short notice and advocacy at the highest level, that in-house structure gives our clients a genuine advantage. With a Trustpilot rating of 4.95 from over 1,200 client reviews, we are trusted by families in some of their most difficult moments.
“I had an excellent experience working with this lawyer. From the very beginning, they were professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to achieving the best possible outcome for my case.
They took the time to clearly explain every step of the process, making sure I understood my options and felt confident in the decisions being made. Communication was outstanding—I was always kept informed and any questions I had were answered promptly and thoroughly.
What stood out most was their attention to detail and dedication. They handled everything with care and expertise, which gave me great peace of mind during a stressful time.” – TA – Trustpilot
Our Children Law Legal Services
We advise and act on the full range of children’s law matters, including:
- Child arrangements orders under the Children Act 1989, determining where a child lives and the time they spend with each parent following separation.
- Specific issue orders, resolving disputes about a particular aspect of a child’s upbringing, including decisions about schooling, medical treatment, or religious practice.
- Prohibited steps orders, preventing a parent from taking a specific action, such as removing a child from the country or changing their school, without the court’s permission.
- Internal relocation disputes, where one parent wants to move with the child to a different part of England and Wales and the other parent objects.
- International relocation applications, including applications to take a child to live abroad on a permanent or extended temporary basis.
- Child abduction cases including urgent applications where a child has been taken abroad without consent, and applications for their return under the 1980 Hague Convention on Child Abduction.
- Parental responsibility applications, particularly for unmarried fathers and others who do not automatically hold parental responsibility under the Children Act 1989.
- Grandparent and third-party contact applications, where a person other than a parent is seeking the right to maintain a relationship with a child.
- Urgent without-notice applications for the immediate protection of a child or to prevent imminent removal from the jurisdiction.
- Mediation support and representation throughout the pre-application process, including cases where mediation breaks down and court proceedings become necessary.
Why Choose Law Lane for Children Law?
Children law cases require a solicitor who combines legal skill with an understanding of the emotional pressures parents face. Our Family Law Solicitors put the welfare of the child involved in the dispute at the forefront of everything we do.
Most children law matters are resolved outside of court. However, if your case does need a hearing, the same team that has advised you throughout can represent you in court. We do not hand cases to external counsel at the last moment. That continuity matters in children cases, where a judge’s assessment of a parent is partly formed by how their case is presented and by the confidence and credibility of the account given on their behalf.
Get in touch today to discuss your children’s law matter in complete confidence. Phone: 020 7870 4870 or email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk
Law Lane Solicitors is proud to be accredited under The Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation.
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“I cannot thank Solicitor Miss Sarah Akram enough for the exceptional support and professionalism shown throughout my case. From the beginning to the final hearing, she was extremely prepared, knowledgeable, and reassuring during what was a very stressful period. She handled the matter with great care, remained responsive to my concerns, and ensured I understood each stage of the process. Her preparation and attention to detail gave me confidence throughout, and I felt that my case was taken seriously at all times. Thanks to her guidance, dedication, and advocacy, a positive outcome was achieved. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking legal support, particularly in sensitive and complex family matters. Thank you again for your hard work and support.“ – M – Trust Pilot
Frequently Asked Questions – Children Law
How does the court decide where a child should live?
The court’s paramount consideration is the welfare of the child under the Children Act 1989. To assess welfare, the court applies a checklist of factors that includes the child’s wishes and feelings given their age and understanding, their physical and emotional needs, the likely effect of any change in their circumstances, and each parent’s ability to meet those needs. There is no automatic presumption that a child should live with one parent rather than the other.
Do I have to go to mediation before applying to court?
In most cases, yes. Before issuing a court application about children, you are required to attend a Mediation Assessment and Information Meeting (MIAM) with a mediator to assess whether mediation is suitable. If mediation is not suitable, or if you attempt it and it breaks down, the mediator provides a signed certificate that allows you to issue your court application. There are exceptions for urgent cases involving risk of harm.
What is a child arrangements order?
A child arrangements order is a court order made under the Children Act 1989 that sets out where a child lives and the time they spend with each parent (this was formally referred to as custody and access). An order that a child ‘lives with’ one parent gives that parent day-to-day care of the child. An order about ‘spending time with’ a parent governs contact arrangements.
Can I stop the other parent from taking our child abroad?
Once a child arrangements order is in place, a parent with whom the child lives can take the child abroad for up to 28 days without needing the other parent’s consent. Longer trips, or any trip by a parent who does not have a lives-with order, require either the consent of everyone with parental responsibility or the permission of the court. If you are concerned that a child may be removed without your consent, we can apply urgently for a prohibited steps order.
What happens if the other parent does not comply with the court order?
A child arrangements order is a court order and can be enforced. If the other parent persistently fails to comply without good reason, it is possible to apply to the court to have the order enforced. We understand how upsetting and frustrating these types of cases can be, especially if you are prevented from seeing your children. You can trust that our team will act smartly and strategically to ensure your children’s best interests are protected and the existing court order adhered to.
At what age can a child decide which parent they want to live with?
There is no fixed age at which a child’s wishes become determinative. The weight the court gives to a child’s expressed wishes increases as the child matures and is better able to understand the implications of their choices. A teenager’s firm and clearly reasoned preference will carry significant weight, but the court will always balance it against all other welfare considerations and look critically at whether the child’s view has been influenced by a parent.
What is parental responsibility and who has it?
Parental responsibility is the collection of rights, duties, and powers that a parent has in relation to a child under the Children Act 1989. A mother automatically has parental responsibility. A father who was married to the mother at the time of birth, or who is named on the birth certificate, also has it automatically. An unmarried father not named on the birth certificate can acquire parental responsibility by agreement or by court order.
How much does an initial consultation cost?
We offer an initial consultation at a fixed fee. During that meeting, we will discuss your specific situation, explain your options, advise on whether court proceedings are likely to be necessary, and give you a clear estimate of the likely costs and timescale. Please contact us to arrange a time.
Get in Touch
Our Children’s Law Solicitors are ready to help you today. We know that taking the first step to resolve a family law dispute is often the hardest part. We will listen, give you a clear assessment of your position, and advise you on the next steps. Please phone: 020 7870 4870 or email info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk
Children’s Law Team
Ghulam Mustafa
Barrister, Deputy Managing Director, Non-Practising Solicitor AdvocateView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Sarah Akram
Supervising SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Manpreet Kaur
Trainee SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Shahid Hussain
Legal ConsultantView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Accreditations & Memberships
