Private Law Child Disputes Solicitors

Trust our experienced private law child disputes solicitors to guide you towards resolving conflicts with your child’s best interests at heart.

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Resolving child disputes with expertise and sensitivity.

Resolving private law child disputes can be challenging, but with the right support from child disputes solicitors, it is possible to find a way forward.

Whether you’re going through a divorce or already separated and facing changes that make the current child arrangements unworkable, we’re here to help. Child arrangements cover where your child will live, who they will spend time with and how important decisions are made. These decisions can include their education, health, relocation and welfare. It’s crucial to ensure that these arrangements are in your child’s best interests.

Our most important considerations are always your child and that any arrangements made for you are as smooth as possible.

We understand that child disputes are deeply personal, and the impact they have on your family is significant. That’s why we focus on providing tailored advice that fits your specific needs. From negotiating agreements to applying for court orders, our family law solicitors are here to guide you through the legal process, making sure everything is explained.

Family Mediation

Where possible, our child disputes solicitors help you to resolve matters without going to court, making the process quicker, less stressful and more cost-effective. All our solicitors are members of Resolution, the organisation dedicated to promoting a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters.

With family mediation as a key tool, we support you every step of the way, helping to minimise conflict and focus on practical solutions that prioritise your child’s well-being.

If court becomes necessary, we’ll provide strong representation to protect your family’s interests.

Why choose us?

Our team’s excellence in family law is recognised by independent legal directories, Chambers & Partner and Legal 500, reflecting our high standards of expertise and client care.

Based in London and the South East, our child disputes solicitors offer consultations both in-person and remotely, ensuring our services are accessible wherever you are.

With a focus on clear advice and practical solutions, we help you reach fair and lasting agreements tailored to your family’s unique needs.

Thomas Mansfield Family Law rated excellent on Review Solicitors - five-star client reviews for family law services.

Protecting your child’s interests through court orders.

When it’s hard to find common ground, you may need to seek a court order to protect your child’s interests. We can guide you through this process and help you apply for:

  • A child arrangements order

    This type of order sets out where your child will live and how much time they’ll spend with each parent. A child arrangements order provides a clear framework for daily routines, including weekends, holidays and school arrangements. It helps to create structure and clarity in parenting responsibilities.

  • A specific issue order

    If you need a court decision on a specific aspect of your child’s upbringing, such as where they should go to school or what medical treatment they should receive, a specific issue order can help.

  • A prohibited steps order

    If you’re worried that the other parent may make a decision you disagree with, like moving your child to a new school, relocating in or out of the country or making a major medical decision without your consent, a prohibited steps order can stop this from happening.

  • Removal from jurisdiction

    If there’s a concern that one parent may try to take your child out of the country without your permission, or if you’re considering relocating abroad with your child, we can help. Whether it’s applying for a prohibited steps order to stop relocation or seeking court approval to move, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

  • Special guardianship orders

    If another person, such as a grandparent or family member, needs to take on parental responsibility, a special guardianship order provides long-term care arrangements without severing the legal ties between the child and their parents.

Each of these orders helps ensure that decisions regarding your child are made with their welfare in mind, offering legal protection and clarity when parents are unable to agree.

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Meet our family solicitors

Taking the next step.

At Thomas Mansfield Family Law, we will listen to your concerns, explain the options clearly and support you every step of the way. We offer clear, practical advice tailored to your family’s unique situation.

Whether you are looking to come to an agreement or need guidance through a more complex dispute, our team is here for you.

We have years of experience in family law and our team includes highly trained mediators and collaborative lawyers, skilled in helping parents resolve disputes without court.

We offer both flexible remote consultations and face-to-face meetings at our conveniently located offices across London and the South East, ensuring we’re here when you need us.

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Our locations

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South East

Frequently asked questions

When parents separate, the way they communicate has a lasting impact on their children. It helps to keep conversations respectful and focused on practical arrangements rather than emotions.Many parents find it easier to use co-parenting apps or shared calendars to stay organised and reduce misunderstandings. If things start to break down, mediation can offer a calm, neutral setting where both sides are supported in finding a way forward that keeps the child’s wellbeing at the centre.

Child maintenance payments are mainly based on the paying parent’s income, but several other elements come into play. The Child Maintenance Service applies a formula that looks at income after tax and pension deductions, as well as the number of children and how much time they spend with each parent. In some cases, extra costs such as medical needs or school fees may also be taken into account.Every family’s situation is slightly different, which is why professional guidance from a child maintenance solicitor can be helpful in understanding what’s fair and realistic.

The surrogacy process involves several legal stages to ensure that the intended parents become the child’s legal parents. A key step is applying for a parental order, which transfers legal parenthood from the surrogate to the intended parents. When surrogacy takes place overseas, the process can be more complex because the rules vary from one country to another.Taking early advice from a specialist surrogacy lawyer will help avoid costly delays and ensure every legal requirement is met properly.

Grandparents don’t automatically have a legal right to contact with their grandchildren, but the courts do recognise how important those relationships can be. If contact has been restricted, a grandparent can apply to the court for permission to make an application. The judge will then consider whether seeing the grandparent is in the child’s best interests, taking into account the family history and the child’s welfare.Many families find that family mediation helps rebuild communication before the court stage is even needed.

Disputes involving children across different countries can be complicated. There may be disagreements about which country’s courts should decide the case, or how international conventions (such as the Hague Convention) apply. Cultural differences, travel arrangements, and the practicalities of shared care can also create difficulties.Because every country’s system works differently, it’s essential to get specialist legal advice from a specialst international child lawyer early on to avoid mistakes and protect both your rights and your child’s stability.

Moving to a new area or another country with your child isn’t a decision to make alone. You’ll need the other parent’s consent, or, if that’s not possible, the court’s permission.Think carefully about how the move will affect your child’s schooling, friendships, and their relationship with both parents. The court’s focus will always be on what arrangement best supports the child’s emotional and practical needs, so detailed planning and clear communication are key before relocating with a child.

When parents can’t agree on where a child should live or how much time they spend with each parent, the court can step in to make what’s called a “child arrangements order.”The judge will look at the child’s welfare, their wishes and feelings (depending on age), and each parent’s ability to meet their needs.  However, families are encouraged to first speak to a child arrangements lawyer, to try mediation or negotiation, as reaching an agreement together is usually less stressful and far better for the child in the long run.

What clients say
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From the very beginning I felt as if Connor McKee knew his job back to front, had my best interests at heart (even when he occasionally had to tell me that such and such was unrealistic, unreasonable or unwise) and was a thoroughly reassuring ally throughout. Connor helped me to reach a fair result in the fastest time possible. I never felt as if I was just another client. I felt, instead, as if I were a priority. My divorce was in extremely good hands and has ended as well as it could.

I had an excellent experience working with Connor during my divorce proceedings. He was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the entire process. Connor explained everything clearly, kept me informed at every stage, and handled all matters efficiently and with great attention to detail.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your diligence and invaluable assistance throughout this process. Your support has been greatly appreciated.

I have been comforted by excellent insight and a calm and effective service. The team provides succinct communication which is action-orientated and targeted towards the objective.

Fantastic service, fast response. Would recommend TM to anybody looking for legal assistance.

Everything was done virtually and my solicitor kept me fully informed throughout. I would definitely recommend Thomas Mansfield for anyone needing a family lawyer.

Clear communications, and an honest and authentic response to challenging questions. They also listen, and properly listen to concerns. I would highly recommend Thomas Mansfield.

Hollie has the perfect balance of professionalism and genuine care for her clients.

Simplicity, listening and professionalism! At a very stressful time (involving French and UK laws) the whole process was made clear, helpful and concise.

My experience of dealing with individuals at the firm is that they demonstrate a great amount of empathy, care and tact at dealing with tricky family law issues.

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Please note we cannot offer legal aid.

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