Allocating time spent with the children
When parents separate, there are many possible arrangements for children. Examples include
– the children living mainly with one parent, but spending time with the other.
-The children spend roughly the same amount of time with each parent;
There are many variations and in some cases, the children need more structure when seeing a parent and this might include supervised visits - where another adult must be present during the time allocated.
In exceptional cases perhaps where there’s a history of abuse, the children might not see a parent at all.
The Court’s main concern is to do what’s best for the children and where possible to ensure a healthy relationship with both parents.
What happens if the other parent won’t let you see your children? Speak to us, we can tell you what you can do and what you shouldn’t do.
Taking a Collaborative approach
We’re keen advocates of the Collaborative approach to family settlements. This is a process whereby families avoid the cost and unpleasantness of court appearances, by instructive their lawyers to work together to resolve disputes in a way that’s best for both parties. Read more here about the Collaborative process
Find out about how we help with Child Access - allocating time spent
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Allocating time spent
A few examples of how a court might allocate contact time to a parent who doesn’t live with the child -
- A baby - a couple of times a week
- A toddler - a day each weekend. Very young children have a short memory span and benefit from frequent shorter periods
- Young children - alternate weekends with one night overnight and perhaps an evening each week
- Older children - much more flexibility, e.g. Friday - Monday. Often there are no set rules, as children’s needs change rapidly as they grow older. A lot will depend on how far apart the parents live and how long it takes to get to school.