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Brandon

Bury St Edmunds

Norwich

Thetford

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Children law solicitors

Ensuring your child's future with compassionate, proactive legal advice

Nothing is more important than your children; we understand that. Navigating legal matters involving children and young people can be particularly sensitive. Our attentive children's law solicitors offer expert guidance and put your children first, every step of the way.

 

We treat your children and family with dignity and respect, protecting their rights and wellbeing, and ensuring their voices are at the forefront of decisions made about their future care arrangements. 

In tune with your family's needs

You may be going through a child arrangements dispute, have an issue which needs resolving or want to safeguard your children. If you are beginning adoption proceedings, liaising with social services, or facing another highly emotional situation; whatever you and your family are experiencing, we’re here to listen and provide clear, straightforward guidance.

 

We have extensive experience in both public and private law, and are accredited members of the Law Society's Children's Panel and Resolution. With our help and advice, you can make informed decisions about your children's best interests.

In public law cases, we work closely with guardians from CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service). Alternatively, if we're not representing your children, we will support parents through proceedings.

Key contacts

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Steven Mcgrath

Commercial

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Kate Ford

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Jade Westhead

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How Rudlings can advise on children law issues

At Rudlings, we're proud to have one of the most experienced and largest children law teams in the East of England. Our children's law solicitors have specific expertise in:

  • Child arrangement orders

  • Specific Issue orders

  • Prohibited Steps orders

  • Parental responsibility

  • International relocation

  • Schedule 1 Children Act applications

  • Adoption and special guardianship orders

  • Care proceedings

  • Fostering

  • International child abduction and arrangements orders

  • Forced marriage protection orders

Child arrangement orders

Divorce and separation are already stressful situations. Disagreements with an ex-partner
about where your children should live and how often they spend time with each parent can
add to the emotional trauma experienced by families.  This is where child arrangement orders (formerly residence and contact orders) can help.

 

We have one of the largest teams in the area with diverse experience able to offer advice and support to represent you and your children's interests.  With the aim of achieving the best outcome possible.  

 

We also provide mediation to assist you on reaching an amicable solution or can act on joint instruction to help resolve your dispute.  

 

We also provide information on financial support, and whether you qualify for Legal Aid to fund your case.  

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Prohibited steps order

Prohibited steps orders (PSO) can prevent a parent from acting in a certain way when it is to the detriment of a child. For instance, preventing a child being taken abroad, unilaterally changing schools, or making medical decisions. Since these are typically urgent in nature, you can be assured that we'll take immediate action to secure the court order you need.

Specific Issue order

When you have a specific issue that cannot be resolved amicably then the court can determine this issue for you.  This might be where they should go to school, how they should get there or whether they should be raised as part of a religious faith.  

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Parental responsibility

Whether you're a birth parent or an adoptive parent, you need to understand
your legal position and parental responsibility. We can assist parents and family members by explaining your rights and obligations in plain English, allowing you
to make empowered, informed decisions about your child’s upbringing, health,
and education.

International child abduction

If your child is abducted then you are entitled to legal aid to secure their return to this jurisdiction.  Once they have been returned we can assist you with securing orders to
ensure their safety and long term care arrangements.

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International relocation

If you are thinking of moving abroad with your children then you will need to obtain the consent of all parties with parental responsibility to leave the jurisdiction of England and Wales.  If consent is not forthcoming we can advise, assist and represent you in respect of leave to remove children from the jurisdiction. 

Forced marriage protection orders

If you suspect your child or relative is being forced to marry abroad we can provide advice, support and representation on forced marriage prevention orders to ensure a child's welfare, safety, and freedom.

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Local authorities and care proceedings

We understand the stress and uncertainty faced by families when a local authority believes a child has suffered or is at risk of significant harm. This may be due to:

  • Neglect. Failure to ensure children have their basic needs met, such as access to food, shelter, clothes, or medical treatment.

  • Physical abuse. Inflicting physical harm on a young person.

  • Emotional abuse. Causing emotional harm to a child, through threats, constant criticism, or as witnesses to domestic violence.

  • Sexual abuse. Any sexual activity with a child of any age.

 

Whatever child protection issues you're going through as a family, we listen to your needs, prioritise your child’s wellbeing and support your family through this sensitive and complex process.

 

We work with social services to ensure your child’s welfare and rights are protected every step of the way and represent you in court when the time comes. From the start, we're on your side.

Fostering

When a child can’t safely remain with their family, fostering can play a key role in care proceedings and children's services.

 

We advise on foster care arrangements, including contact between young people and their families. Our family lawyers also represent families who decide to go through the assessment process to become short-term, long-term, or specialist foster carers themselves.

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Empathetic child law advice from our legal experts

Find Rudlings’ offices across East Anglia in Norwich, Brandon, Thetford, and Bury St Edmunds. Although based in Norfolk and Suffolk,
our reach extends across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Rutland, Suffolk, Essex, and beyond. Emotions can run high with children involved;
whatever your family’s situation, our children’s care team will provide constructive advice and legal services to help you and your loved ones.
Speak to a family law expert to book your first appointment.

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