Child arrangements

Summary

Agreeing where your children live and how much time they spend with each parent is called sorting out ‘child arrangements’. People seem to still call it ‘child custody’ and ‘contact’ even though the law moved away from these ideas a very long time ago. If you are having to sort out arrangements for your children, whether it is for the first time or simply a renegotiation, we have all the help you need. Speak to an expert family lawyer about how the information about child arrangements applies to your situation using our Affordable Advice service. Low cost and fixed-fee, so that you know you can afford it. In partnership with Resolution. Getting free one-to-one advice about family law is hard. All advice services are extremely busy. We are here to help everyone who cannot get in at an advice service and cannot afford to pay for legal help. We give you the knowledge, confidence, and skills you need to deal with the issue yourself, or with the help of friends or family. If you need more help than you can get from our advice guides, we explain how to try to find advice.

Key information

• •Agreeing where your children live and how much time they spend with each parent is called sorting out ‘child arrangements’. People seem to still call it ‘child custody’ and ‘contact’ even though the law moved away from these ideas a very long time ago.
• •If you are having to sort out arrangements for your children, whether it is for the first time or simply a renegotiation, we have all the help you need.
• •Information How to sort out child arrangements Get to grips with what you need to agree, what the law says, and what to do about money.  Information How to use family mediation Understand how family mediation could help you, as well as how to find a good mediator and how much it will cost.  Information Child arrangements - what worked for us Being a parent is hard. Give yourself a break and try to follow these golden rules to help your children 
• •Information What to do before you apply to the family court about your children If you thinking about applying for a child arrangements order without a lawyer there are things you need to do first. Step-by-step help on what you need to do.  Information Apply for a child arrangements order Step-by-step help if you have to go to court about where your children live, how often they see their other parent, and other parenting issues.  Information How to apply for a child arrangements order at a Pathfinder or Child Focussed Court Step-by-step help for people applying for a child arrangements order at a Pathfinder or Child Focussed court.  Information How to represent yourself in family court Step-by-step help if you have to go to court about where your children live, how often they see their other parent, and other parenting issues.  Information When the other side has a lawyer and you don't Get to grips with how going to court works and what to expect, as well as help with the skills you need.  Information Help with court fees in a civil or family case Get to grips with how going to court works and what to expect, as well as help with the skills you need. 
• •Information How to get free or low cost legal advice How you may be able to get legal advice about your family law problem or court case and where to try.  Information How to get legal aid for a family case Understand when it is available, and who can get it to pay for family mediation or legal advice 
• •Speak to an expert family lawyer about how the information about child arrangements applies to your situation using our Affordable Advice service. Low cost and fixed-fee, so that you know you can afford it. In partnership with Resolution.
• •Getting free one-to-one advice about family law is hard. All advice services are extremely busy. We are here to help everyone who cannot get in at an advice service and cannot afford to pay for legal help.
• •We give you the knowledge, confidence, and skills you need to deal with the issue yourself, or with the help of friends or family. If you need more help than you can get from our advice guides, we explain how to try to find advice.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [Child arrangements](https://www.advicenow.org.uk/get-help/family-and-children/child-arrangements)

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