Case study: CHild arrangements

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Mr A had been in a long-term relationship with his partner, with whom he had a 6-year-old son. After the relationship broke down, his ex-partner limited contact to brief daytime visits once every fortnight, insisting that overnight stays were not appropriate.

Mr A felt this unfairly restricted his relationship with his son, especially as he had always been actively involved in daily care, attending school runs, after-school activities, and medical appointments. His son was becoming increasingly unsettled due to the inconsistency in contact.

• We advised Mr A on his rights and encouraged him to try mediation first. When this failed, we promptly issued a C100 application to the Family Court.
   
• We guided him through each stage, including preparing a detailed statement of evidence setting out his parenting history.
   
• We liaised with CAFCASS during safeguarding checks, ensuring Mr A’s concerns were fairly presented.
   
• At the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA), we negotiated interim contact to allow father and son regular time together.
   
• We prepared Mr A for each hearing, explaining likely outcomes and strategy.

• At the final hearing, the Court recognised Mr A’s strong bond with his son.
   
• A Child Arrangements Order was made granting alternate weekend overnight stays, a mid-week overnight contact, and half of all school holidays.
   
• This gave Mr A the reassurance of a legally binding order and provided his son with much-needed consistency.