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Child Arrangements

Our London family law solicitors advise on child arrangements orders, contact disputes, parental responsibility and urgent applications involving domestic abuse or concerns about a child’s safety. We help you understand your options, protect your child’s welfare and work towards a stable arrangement for the future.

Arona St James Solicitors63 St James Street, London E17 7PJ
020 8175 5000

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Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA) memberRainbow Migration supporterJoint Council for the Welfare of ImmigrantsThe Law SocietyResolution Family Team accredited

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When parents separate, questions about where children will live and how much time they will spend with each parent are often the most difficult and emotional to resolve. These decisions can have a lasting impact on a child’s sense of stability and wellbeing.

Our child arrangements solicitors in London advise on living arrangements, contact disputes and court applications, helping parents reach safe, practical solutions that prioritise their child’s needs.

We act for clients across London and the South East, including Walthamstow, East London and Central London. Whether you are at the early stages of separation, dealing with urgent concerns about contact, or already involved in court proceedings, we provide clear guidance and steady support throughout.

Every family is different, and arrangements should reflect what is right for your child.

Who We Help

We represent a wide range of parents and carers in child arrangements matters, including:

  • Mothers, fathers and step-parents who cannot agree how a child’s time should be divided
  • Parents where there has been domestic abuse, coercive or controlling behaviour
  • LGBTQ+ parents, including same-sex couples, trans and non-binary individuals, and families formed through surrogacy, donor conception and co-parenting
  • Families with an international element, including relocation or concerns about a child being taken out of the UK without consent

We understand that concerns about your child’s wellbeing can feel overwhelming. Our role is to provide clear, practical advice and support so you can make decisions that protect your child and provide stability for the future.

Types of Orders

Child Arrangements Order – where your child lives and spend time with each parent

A Child Arrangements Order sets out where a child will live and how they will spend time with each parent or other important people in their life. We advise parents across London on applying for child arrangements orders where agreement cannot be reached.

The court’s priority is always the welfare of the child, focusing on arrangements that provide stability, consistency and support. Orders may include structured contact such as weekends, holidays and special occasions, or more flexible shared care arrangements where appropriate.

Specific Issue Order

Where parents cannot agree on a particular issue, a Specific Issue Order may be required.

Common examples include:

  • Choice of school
  • Medical treatment
  • Permission for holidays abroad

We help you present a clear and focused case so that the court can determine what is in your child’s best interests.

Prohibited Steps Order

A Prohibited Steps Order prevents certain actions without court permission. This is often used where there are concerns about:

  • A child being taken abroad without consent
  • Sudden changes to living arrangements
  • Decisions that may put the child at risk

If you are concerned about your child’s safety, we can advise on making an urgent application.

Parental Responsibility

Parental responsibility refers to the legal rights and responsibilities a parent has in relation to a child, including decisions about:

  • Education
  • Medical treatment
  • Religious upbringing
  • General welfare

While mothers automatically have parental responsibility, others, including unmarried fathers and step-parents, may need to formalise their position through agreement or court order.

Guardianship and Special Guardianship Orders

These orders provide longer-term arrangements where a child cannot live with their parents.

  • Guardianship Orders appoint someone to care for a child if both parents are unable to do so
  • Special Guardianship Orders provide a more permanent arrangement while maintaining a legal link with the parents

We guide families through what can be a complex but important process.

Child Arrangements Where There Has Been Domestic Abuse

Where there has been domestic abuse or coercive control, decisions about child arrangements must be handled with care and sensitivity.

The court’s primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of both the child and the non-abusive parent. We understand how difficult these situations can be and provide clear, supportive advice to help you navigate them.

Depending on the circumstances, arrangements may include:

  • Supervised contact
  • Supported or indirect contact (for example by video or letters)
  • Restrictions on contact where necessary for safety

We will help ensure that any arrangements properly reflect the risks and prioritise your child’s wellbeing.

Talk to a Child Arrangements Solicitor in London

If you need advice on child arrangements, contact our London team to discuss your situation in confidence. We will help you understand your options and work towards arrangements that support your child’s wellbeing and provide long-term stability.

Call 020 8175 5000 or contact us to arrange a consultation with a specialist child arrangements solicitor in London.

Important

This page contains general legal information only and does not constitute legal advice. The law may change and its application will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. You should seek tailored advice from a qualified solicitor.

FAQs

A Child Arrangements Order sets out where a child lives and how they spend time with each parent or other individuals. It replaces the previous legal terms “custody” and “access”.

Client reviews

What clients say about our child arrangements team

4.9 average from 173 reviews on Google
  • I would highly recommend Arona St James solicitors. I had Phoebe Chau working on my family matters case. She did this with great care, compassion and clarity. She was extremely good with communication every step of the way. She kept me informed throughout the process and was highly professional. I am most grateful for her dedication and support. Thank you Phoebe!
  • I highly recommend Arona Sarwar an immigration solicitor from Arona St James for her expertise with my ILR case as a child dependent to a skilled worker especially as I am now an adult. We had to work with the firm about my dependency and explore the continuous residence carefully, the case worker guidance was looked at as this can change throughout the several months and a grant emerged. I was nervous as I could not travel at firm due to my studies and time out exceeded the period but was discounted in the end which settled my anxiety over a possible refusal. My case as you can see had a few complications, but the immigration solicitors understood how children under support of their parents don’t live independently for some time once they turn 18. Arona Sarwar insights helped us a lot through this process and I can now just enjoy being young again without what the news alarming me that my future is uncertain. I highly recommend this small female run law firm which to me is incredibly knowledgable, well established, and diverse. I highly recommend this law firm for skilled worker dependents ILR advice.
  • I would highly recommend Arona St James solicitors. I had Phoebe Chau working on my family matters case. She did this with great care, compassion and clarity. She was extremely good with communication every step of the way. She kept me informed throughout the process and was highly professional. I am most grateful for her dedication and support. Thank you Phoebe!
  • I’ve used Arona St James for many years, especially for family, my Wills and other matters, and I’ve always been met with honesty, professionalism, and clear guidance no matter how difficult or complicated things have been. I’m very grateful to Arona and Phoebe for their expertise and professionalism, and to the whole team for being so supportive. They treat me with respect, understanding, and humanity, which makes a big difference during these challenging times. Thank you.
  • I recently used the checking-in service offered by Arona St James Solicitors for my British citizenship application, and I was thrilled with the results. Arona Sarwar checked my application for merit and eligibility, ensuring every detail was in order once I had provided all the necessary documents. One aspect that particularly stood out was her assistance with a challenging question about my marital status on the form. Despite the seemingly straightforward nature of the question, I was uncertain about how best to answer it to avoid any doubts from the Home Office agent reviewing my application. Arona provided me with two clear and simple sentence options to address this concern. I submitted my application on August 20th, 2024, and by October 7th, I received an email from UKVI confirming that my application had been successful. The entire process was efficient, and stress free, thanks to Arona’s guidance. This wasn't my 1st positive experience with Arona St James Solicitors. They also successfully assisted me with my settlement application in 2019, providing the same level of expertise. I wholeheartedly recommend the checking-in service provided by this firm.Their attention to detail and efficiency at untangling complex situations truly set them apart. If you are looking for reliable and efficient assistance with your immigration matters, look no further than Arona St James Solicitors. Thanks Arona for making this process easy and ensuring my success!
  • I have known Arona Sarwar, Solicitor, for over 5 years, and she handles all my immigration affairs and other advice when I need it; she is supportive, highly knowledgeable and a very tactical solicitor. Her staff are friendly and also assist, so you feel supported by her team. I have just got my British Passport and now run a successful small business in London. I highly recommend those applying to seek her advice, as she is one of the best immigration solicitors out there and should be shouted about a lot more. I celebrate Arona St. James Solicitors as a firm enriched with diversity, my money goes to support the right business with huge expertise and will not be forgotten from my side, highly value this firm.
  • I have lived in the UK for over 10 years relied on other solicitors but this firm changed my life, worked hard during this pandemic to help me successfully win my case and I would always recommend this firm as brilliant set of solicitors to work with expertise is formidable and very outcome based. I had the head of the team Arona Sarwar and her caseworker Emma work together to secure my win. Highly recommend
  • To try and obtain a settlement visa during a Covid lockdown was going to be a challenge, but Arona and her team did just that. She had the patience, expertise and access to key people in order for my application to be processed quickly. She understood our urgency and explored every option wherever we needed it. We highly recommend her with great confidence.
  • As an Egyptian who applied for asylum (international protection) in the UK I met with several immigration lawyers. They were helpful to me but the most helpful, and the person who had the most in-depth knowledge of both the conditions in Egypt and of my situation as a gay man was Arona Sarwar of Arona St James. She impressed me because she knew exactly what information was relevant to support my claim for international protection and she knew how to draft an effective personal statement and eliminate background information that was not relevant. I would therefore recommend her to anyone and especially to people from the Middle East who want a solicitor that has insightful and she is in my opinion, an outstanding solicitor who will guide you through this very difficult process. I got a distinction in my Master’s and I can’t wait to settle down in my career and build my home in the UK.
  • I had been here in 9years and fought to get international protection. I had 5 firms before I found Arona St James so I can compare the legal team here against others. From the outset firm had time for me, they listened to me, where I felt defeated and low they encouraged me to get to a happy place and then took my history. I felt supported that I could talk freely more to them which made the difference and I have no doubt this helped me secure my stay. This firm is incredibly knowledgeable and have years of experience within the field of immigration law and with dealing with a person’s case through to succession. A lot of the media talk about hostile environment faced by immigrants so having a strong law firm that supports you I think he is key when selecting your legal representative. The biggest step for me was first meeting with them and being told that they would act. I would encourage those who have strong cases and poor representation to go to Arona St James and you will find a brilliant Immigration Law firm, that will be honest and engaging with you. If they take on your case they will fight it like no other firm that I have dealt with in the past. They followed up on my immigration case, which had been stagnate for years at the Home Office, they accompanied me to my appointments and advised me throughout ( by phone, by email, and through our meetings) so I was confident handling myself more. They prepared my evidence for my hearing and instructed an exceptional barrister, again it was important that I felt relaxed around her, and from my initial meeting I knew she understood my plight, it was clear she had read the papers and fought my case. My solicitor Arona Sarwar is a powerful solicitor, when you meet her and work with her you know you are in safe hands, she is strategic and her legal expertise in this field is obvious, her presence is felt. Arona St James prepared my case for the hearing and for UKVI and this assisted my win. Without this firm I would not have secured my stay and I highly recommend them to all immigration clients.
  • I was recommended to Arona Sarwar of Arona St James.  I am from Yemen and worked all my adult life as a police officer in the Dubai Police Force.  I lost my job and my residency, whilst I came to visit my wife in the UK.  Recently I was awarded Humanitarian Protection thanks to Arona Sarwar, as it is unsafe for me to return to Yemen.  I am restarting my life with my family.  I am now in a safe place and away from harm’s way.  Yemen is a place of unrest and remains an unsafe country. This law firm has a great team of Immigration caseworkers who work long and hard on cases.  I was accompanied to all my interviews and represented.  I felt supported throughout and you noticed how determined Arona was to fight for me.  She ensured she got to know me, my family before finalising my arguments. Also my family were pleased with having her on board. I would recommend her to those who want an intelligent confident solicitor that just makes you feel she will not give up.  You know from the beginning she has the experience and will do what’s best for you.    I am protected and sleep well at night now.  My life has changed for the better. A big Thank you to everyone at Arona St James Solicitors
  • I am Hungarian EEA national. I applied for my permanent residence with my husband and was treated very poorly by the Home Office, they raided my home. The officers were quite hostile to me as my husband had moved out and I had not informed them. I thought up until I divorce I am still married, so could not see why they were shouting at me …….that I had lied to them and that It was too late and I would have to leave the UK. I have been in a relationship with my husband since 2009 and they made me feel like a criminal. I spoke with Arona about the visit, she intervened and made urgent representations addressing them that my husband would qualify for stay under retained rights as if I had divorced my husband he would still qualify and resolved matters for us both swiftly. This was important for me as well as I was securing my permanent residence and the whole process was unfair, they took three months and I was in limbo about my rights and my husbands. I have known Arona since 2010, she helped us secure our residence certificates. What I would like to say Arona Sarwar was very supportive, patient, understanding during our difficult period and her expertise just shines through, the ease at which she is able to unpick the mess and present it fairly and transparently helped us resolve all our affairs properly. For me she is one of the best Immigration solicitors around. Words can not express how grateful we are to her and her team. We can get on with our lives now Arona Sarwar is best of the best out there. Highly recommend her for her expertise and the best person to turn to on complex cases.
  • My journey with my solicitor, Arona Sarwar, is one of Tier 1 Investment client through to settlement. I came to the UK initially as an undergraduate student and remained one until I had secured my doctorate. As time passes, I realized that I belong here, and I started to nest. I slowly but surely moved much of my possessions over from New York including my prized Steinway piano and consequently decided to switch to an investment visa. Arona had helped me with the initial transition and then helped again to apply for my extension. On both occasions, I had elected the Super Premium Service. During the extension, I fell short in the investment funds that were invested due to a logistical error on my part, but she argued my case with the investment team at UKVI and successfully secured my grant, too my relief. I maintained my investments and recently applied for settlement. I am pleased to confirm that Arona had secured this for me despite the fact that I had only given her instructions a day before the expiration of my visa. She had dropped everything and worked very hard to resolve any issues which have arisen as a result. I can state that she is knowledgeable, meticulous, versatile and exceptionally talented immigration solicitor that I could and do always turn to whenever I need advise. Having a relaxed approach towards clients combined with a very tough and confident approach with the other side can be seen with time. One can notice the ease, at which she works, and that is reflection on her years of experience, which gave me comfort that I was in safe hands. I would advocate any commercial, high-networth immigration applicants to ensure they contact Arona for a honest opinion and successful approach. She certainly went on a journey with me, and I will no doubt turn to her when it is time to apply for nationality as I do have every confidence in her having ability and temperament to help me again in the future.
  • I have known Arona Sarwar through my business dealings with her for several years, through my accountancy practice, as she advices many of our high net worth business clients on business visa’s and investment routes into the UK. She is a highly regarded and respected practitioner. Our practice has instructed magic circle firms but have found her knowledge and legal service outshines their, her hands on approach and quick mind allows my practice to call her to strategically assess our clients needs and find the right solution. We have seen her take on cases and see them through positively. I personally used her services to apply for my wife's application for a UK visa under the priority service. As always I found her to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable with exceptional client care skills. Brilliance
  • I do not think I can put it in words just how brilliant Arona's law firm has been when dealing with my case. I must be their longest running case in their books and not due to the fact that they were not dealing with my case but because I was always too scared to move forward. Sometimes you are not ready to deal with things and that for me has been a long process. However due to Arona's patience and gentle persuasion, we were able to finally put forward my legal case. Arona's immigration team were brilliant; Jessica and Deborah (counsel) formed part of my formidable legal team. From the outset, they got to grips with my case and I could see that they got to know me in depth, understanding my personal situation., in order for me to secure international protection. it is noticable that Arona's team are incredibly committed to the LGTBQ issues and do all they can to help their clients. More importantly they make them feel comfortable and safe, something that is not easily achieved given what most all LGTBQ people seeking asylum has had to endure in their own unsafe country. Without Arona I would not have been granted my leave to remain, I am sure of that, the firm's hard work and determination got us here. Even after the home office refusal there was no doubt in their minds I needed to secure international protection, pushing forward with my case and vase managing my appeal; which we of course we won. All I can say is thank you team Arona Sarwar and to her team, Jessica and Deborah, you are simply the best immigration lawyers. And I will be recommending your firm to anyone who needs legal advice without a second thought.
  • Arona Sarwar was recommended to me. She has acted for my partner and secured his residence card, post a difficult time getting married. She also just secured my permanent residence as an EEA under the self employed route in a very difficult climate. Brilliant mind. Always on the other end of the line. Will always turn to her for my personal and business immigration needs and the ones of friends and family, to whom I will definitely keep recommending her. Sheer brilliance
  • Six years ago my partner and I were deeply worried with his status but fortunately after changing our immigration lawyers and having the step by step guidance Arona Sarwar and her friendly and dedicated team we are enjoying our lives together. We now use Arona Sarwar for all our immigration needs. I can wholeheartedly recommend their services.
  • I was desperately looking for a good lawyer to take on my asylum case. I first met Arona Sarwar in and around January, 2015. She took my case on, helped me from when I applied, she accompanied me to the Home Office with me and advice me on my application. I secured international protection two months after having had my substantive interview. I was over the moon and relieved that I can now begin to live my life. I can’t describe the weight that has been lifted off my shoulder. During my case preparation I met with Arona Sarwar every week. She is not only a good lawyer, she is understanding and friendly to those with asylum case, this helped me enormously as I felt so comfortable to share with her private aspects of my life. I appreciate the hours spent preparing my case and this gave me hope. Her dedication for clients is 100%. I am happy and completely satisfied with the legal advice received. I highly recommend her to those who are going to claim asylum in UK. I am sure you won’t be disappointed.

Arrange a confidential consultation

Contact us today via email on assistance@aronastjames.co.uk or via telephone on 020 8175 5000 to arrange a confidential consultation and discuss your circumstances with one of our family solicitors.