Services
Children arrangements solicitors
Rushton Family Law advises separating parents on arrangements for their children, for clients across England and Wales, in person or remotely.
Most parents want to agree how things will work, and many do. The difficulty is usually in the detail: how time is divided during the week and the holidays, which school the children attend, whether one parent can move to another part of the country or abroad, and how decisions will be made once you are no longer living together. We help you settle those questions in a way that works for the children and holds up over time.
Child arrangements orders
Child arrangements set out where children live and how they spend time with each parent, which used to be called custody and access. We help parents agree arrangements through negotiation, mediation or a parenting plan, and act in applications for a child arrangements order where agreement isn’t possible.
Decisions about your child
When parents can’t agree on an important decision, such as schooling, medical treatment, a change of name, or moving with the children within the UK or abroad, the court can decide the issue or prevent a step from being taken. We advise on resolving these disagreements and act in applications where needed.
Parental responsibility
Parental responsibility gives a parent a say in the major decisions in a child’s life. We advise on who holds it, how unmarried fathers, step-parents and second female parents can obtain it, and what happens when those who share it disagree.
Grandparent's rights
Grandparents and other relatives don’t have an automatic right to see a child, but they can seek the court’s permission to apply for a child arrangements order. We advise on maintaining contact and on taking on a child’s care where that becomes necessary.
Enforcing and varying child arrangements orders
If an order isn’t being followed, or the arrangements no longer work as children grow up, we advise on enforcing, varying or appealing a child arrangements order.
Read more about enforcing and varying child arrangements orders 
How we work
An experienced family solicitor will run your matter from the first meeting onwards, and you will deal with them directly rather than being passed between members of a team.
Part of their job is to help you decide where your time and money are best spent. In most divorces there are points worth pressing and points that make little difference to the end result, and we will be straightforward with you about which is which.
A lot of matters are resolved through negotiation or mediation, and where that is realistic we will recommend it. Where it is not, because the other side will not engage, or disclosure is incomplete, or the issues are genuinely contested, we will advise you on taking the matter to court and act for you there.
Rushton Family Law is the sister brand of Vardags. If your case involves complex finances or international issues, we will introduce you to the Vardags team.
