Protecting Your Parental Rights
At Mackesys Solicitors, we represent mothers and fathers in South East London and the surrounding areas involved in child contact disputes as a result of divorce or separation. We strive to protect your parental rights to contact as well as negotiate a successful outcome through mediation, negotiation or court proceedings.
Determining Child Contact
In many contact disputes, parents cannot agree over the amount of time a child will spend with either parent. This includes disagreement over:
- Primary residence
- Amount and frequency of overnight stays with the non-custodial parent
- Holiday contact, especially should one parent wish to take the child abroad on holiday
- Upbringing, including disputes about religion, values and other lifestyle concerns
- Contact with grandparents or other relatives
When making decisions about child contact, the court will be guided by the principle of protecting the welfare of the child. Various factors are also taken into consideration, including the child's own wishes and feelings in light of his or her age and understanding, educational and physical needs, and the likely effect of any change in circumstances, among other factors.
Striving to Resolve Contact Disputes Amicably
At our firm, we encourage the use of mediation or collaborative law for cases involving children because we understand the long-term benefits for families with a shared agreement and responsibility. As trained neutral mediators, we help parents resolve their differences amicably without the intervention of the court.
If parents cannot agree, we are fully prepared to represent our clients in court proceedings. We also help grandparents and other relatives apply for contact permissions from the court, as they do not have automatic rights for child contact.
Swift Action Against Allegations of Domestic Abuse
If there are allegations of domestic violence in the family, we will advise as to whether the court should have a "fact finding" hearing before deciding on what the arrangements for contact should be. Our solicitors specialise in obtaining emergency court orders to protect those victimised by domestic abuse, and we work quickly to ensure our clients' safety.
Contact Our Greenwich Child Contact Solicitors
If you are involved in a child contact dispute, we invite you call our family law office in Lewisham on 0808 231 6793 or to contact us online to schedule an appointment with our experienced London contact disputes solicitors.
