Residence and Contact Issues
David Williams is based in modern offices on the Ferndown Industrial Estate with free parking.
David is very experienced in dealing with residence and contact issues.
Arrangements for children, formerly known as residence and contact (child custody and access), can be one of the most difficult issues that parents deal with if they separate or divorce.
David can advise you about the options available relating to child arrangements orders and the other orders available.
Disagreements regarding where children live and how often they see a parent who does not live with them can be distressing and emotional. David Williams, specialist family solicitor and lawyer acts regularly for clients who live in Poole, Bournemouth, Corfe Mullen, Ferndown, Wimborne and further afield in Dorset, Hampshire and beyond. He has experience of dealing with children matters in a sensitive, caring and professional way.
When parents find it difficult to talk to each other about arrangements for their children, it can be useful to have a mediator involved to help parents try to reach an agreement without the need for an application to the court. If mediation is unsuccessful then it might be necessary to apply to the court for one of the following orders under the Children Act 1989.
Child Arrangements Order
This was formerly known as residence and contact which in turn had replaced custody and access.
Parental Responsibility
Formerly known as care and control, is shared jointly between all married parents even after a divorce until the children reach 18. Unmarried fathers can get parental responsibility by agreement with the mother of the children, or by a court order, or if the father’s name is on the birth certificate of the children since 2003.
The court will also make two other types of order:
A Prohibited Steps Order
This limits certain parental rights and duties, for example it can be used to can prevent a parent from seeing a child.
A Specific Issue Order
This can can be used to resolve a particular issue which is in dispute. For example a specific issue order can be used when there are disputes about a child’s education or whether a child to be taken abroad.
David is proud to be a member of Resolution, whose 6,500 professional members are committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes.
