We don’t generalise, we specialise in complex family and child law matters including child relocation solicitors.
If you need legal advice on a child relocation matter, our child relocation solicitors, who have over 25 years of experience in complex family law, can help.
Purcell Solicitors is a specialist family law firm providing expert and compassionate advice on child relocation within the UK and abroad following separation, divorce, and relationship breakdown. Ranked in Chambers and Partners for family and divorce law, the firm has represented parents and families in Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, and the wider Thames Valley for over 20 years. Established in 2005, Purcell Solicitors focuses on complex children and international family law issues, including relocation, cross‑border parenting, and overseas moves.
The team regularly advises parents who wish to relocate with their children, as well as those who oppose a proposed move, whether to another part of the UK or overseas. The firm’s approach is always child‑focused, balancing parents’ genuine reasons for moving with the impact on the child’s relationship with both parents.
What We Do
Our child relocation matter legal services
Purcell Solicitors can assist with all aspects of a child relocation matter, both within the UK and internationally, including:
Initial advice on whether a proposed move counts as “relocation” and how it may affect existing child arrangements.
Advising parents who wish to relocate within the UK with their child about the need for consent, notice and, where necessary, court permission.
Advising parents who wish to relocate abroad on the legal framework, including the requirement for consent from those with parental responsibility or a court order.
Preparing detailed relocation proposals covering housing, schooling, childcare, support networks, immigration status and financial viability in the new location.
Negotiating revised child arrangements and contact schedules where relocation is agreed in principle, whether within the UK or overseas.
Applying for Specific Issue Orders seeking permission to relocate where agreement cannot be reached.
Representing parents who oppose relocation applications, including preparing evidence on the impact of the move on the child’s relationship with the non‑moving parent.
Advising on the overlap between relocation and international child abduction, and when Hague Convention or other specialist advice may be needed.
Using mediation, collaborative law and children‑focused arbitration to resolve relocation disputes wherever appropriate.
Our Experts
Who we are
Our child law team is made up of
Pauline Purcell, Managing Director, Family Solicitor, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer and Family Arbitrator, with over 30 years of experience.
Mandi Austin, Director, Family Law Solicitor, a member of Resolution and an accredited specialist on the Law Society Family Law Panel, with over 25 years of experience in family law as a qualified solicitor.
Lisa Buckridge, Director, Family Law Solicitor, Collaborative Lawyer, Family Mediation Council-accredited Mediator, and fully accredited in Child Inclusive Mediation, with over 20 years of experience in family law
Haidee French – Family Law Solicitor, a Member of Resolution and an accredited specialist on the Law Society Family Law Panel with over 12 years of experience in family law
As Resolution members, we follow a Code of Practice that promotes constructive, child-focused approaches to resolving family disputes. In relocation cases, this means exploring whether flexible arrangements, enhanced holiday time, digital contact, and shared decision‑making can address both parents’ concerns without unnecessary litigation.
At the same time, we recognise that some relocations cannot be agreed and require careful determination by the court. Knowing when to pursue negotiated solutions and when to seek or oppose a court order is central to effective representation in this area.
Our team combine specialist knowledge of children’s law, international issues, and dispute resolution processes to achieve balanced outcomes for families facing the possibility of a move.
Get in touch today to discuss your situation in complete confidence.
Get in touch today to discuss your situation in complete confidence.
Purcell Solicitors is where expert legal knowledge meets genuine human understanding. Your family deserves both.
Why Choose Purcell Solicitors for child relocation cases?
We know that relocation cases are among the most sensitive and difficult disputes for separating parents. A move can offer genuine benefits in terms of family support, employment or lifestyle, but may also reduce the time a child spends with the other parent and their wider family. Our Family Law Solicitors provide clear, measured advice on how the courts approach these competing considerations and what is likely to be seen as being in the child’s best interests.
By instructing our specialist Children’s Law Solicitors, parents can ensure that their case is presented with the necessary detail and supporting evidence, and that realistic, child‑centred options are fully explored.
Can I move to another part of the UK with my child?
Relocation within England and Wales is often possible, but you should consider carefully how the move will affect your child’s relationship with the other parent. If you have a Child Arrangements Order or if the move would significantly disrupt the existing pattern, you should seek legal advice before moving.
If you cannot agree, the court can decide whether the move is in your child’s best interests, considering factors such as schooling, family support, and how contact with the other parent will be maintained.
Can the court refuse my application to relocate?
Yes. The court may refuse permission if it concludes that the disadvantages of the move, particularly the impact on the child's relationship with the other parent, outweigh the benefits. Each case depends on its facts, including how involved each parent is in day‑to‑day care, the child's wishes, in light of their age and understanding of the issues, and the quality of the relocation plan.
Early advice can help assess the strength of a proposed application and identify any planning gaps that need to be addressed before issuing proceedings.
Do I need a specialist solicitor for child relocation?
Given the complexity and emotional impact of relocation cases, specialist children and international family law advice is strongly recommended. A solicitor experienced in relocation can help you assess the strength of your case, prepare a robust proposal or response, gather the necessary evidence, and present your position effectively in negotiations or in court.
This support is valuable whether you are seeking permission to move or opposing a relocation that you believe would not be in your child's best interests.
Do I need permission to relocate abroad with my child?
Yes. To relocate abroad permanently with a child, you must have the consent of everyone with parental responsibility or a court order. Without this, removal of a child from the UK may amount to child abduction.
If, following non-court resolution methods such as mediation or family law arbitration, the other parent does not agree, an application to the Family Court for permission to relocate is required. The court will then consider whether the move is in the child's best interests, taking into account the detailed proposals for life in the new country and how the child's relationship with the other parent will be maintained.
Do I need permission to relocate abroad with my child?
Yes. To relocate abroad permanently with a child, you must have the consent of everyone with parental responsibility or a court order. Without this, removal of a child from the UK may amount to child abduction.
If, following non-court resolution methods such as mediation or family law arbitration, the other parent does not agree, an application to the Family Court for permission to relocate is required. The court will then consider whether the move is in the child's best interests, taking into account the detailed proposals for life in the new country and how the child's relationship with the other parent will be maintained.
Do I need the other parent’s consent to move within the UK?
There is no automatic legal ban on moving within England and Wales. Still, if both parents have parental responsibility and the move will significantly affect the other parent's time with the child, consent should be sought as the other parent could make an application to the Court for a Prohibited Steps application stopping the relocation until the matter of the child’s residence was determined by the Court Where parents share care or where the move would make existing arrangements unworkable, it is often necessary either to reach an agreement or to apply to the court for a Specific Issue Order.
The court will assess whether the proposed move is in the child's best interests, considering factors such as schooling, housing, family support, and the impact on the child's relationship with the non-moving parent.
How are shared care arrangements affected by relocation?
Relocation is particularly sensitive where there is a shared care or near‑shared care arrangement. A move that significantly lengthens travel times may make an existing equal or near‑equal schedule unworkable, even within the UK.
The court will consider whether the current shared care arrangement can be adapted (for example, by longer but less frequent blocks of time) or whether the move would effectively shift the balance of care to one parent. The child's best interests remain central.
How do relocation cases link to child abduction concerns?
If a parent relocates abroad without consent or a court order, or retains a child abroad after an agreed visit, this may amount to international child abduction. In such cases, the Hague Convention or other international mechanisms may be engaged to seek the child's return.
Careful legal planning before any international move is essential to avoid unintentionally falling into an abduction scenario.
How does the court decide relocation cases?
The child's welfare is the court's paramount consideration. Judges apply the Children Act 1989 welfare checklist, looking at the child's wishes and feelings (in light of age and understanding), their needs, the likely effect of any change in circumstances, any risk of harm, and how capable each parent is of meeting their needs.
In international relocation cases, the court also closely examines the genuineness of the moving parent's plans, the practicality and stability of the proposed arrangements abroad, and the realism of maintaining a meaningful relationship with the left-behind parent through contact and communication.
How much does advice on child relocation cost?
We offer a first meeting at a fixed fee of £300 (including VAT), during which we will discuss your situation and provide clear, practical advice. After that meeting, we will explain the likely costs of any ongoing advice or representation, tailored to your needs. The overall cost will depend on things such as how complicated your case is, which solicitor works with you, the process you choose, and whether matters are agreed or decided by the Court. You can find more information about our pricing on our pricing page.
What can I do if I want to oppose a relocation?
If you oppose a proposed move, you should seek legal advice promptly. In some situations, it may be appropriate to apply for a Prohibited Steps Order to prevent removal until the court can consider the issue.
To oppose relocation successfully, it is usually important to show the extent of your involvement in your child's life, the impact the move would have on your relationship, and any concerns about the practicality or motivation for the move.
What is child relocation in family law?
Child relocation refers to a significant move by the parent a child lives with, taking the child to live in a different part of the UK or in another country, where the move would materially affect existing child arrangements. It is distinct from routine changes of address within the same local area that do not substantially impact the other parent's time with the child.
If a move will make it difficult or impossible to maintain the current pattern of care or time with the other parent, it is likely to be treated as a relocation requiring consent of both parents or a court order.
What should a relocation proposal include?
A well‑prepared relocation proposal usually covers:
Where you and the child will live, including housing details
Schooling and education plans in the new location
Childcare, healthcare and support networks
Employment and financial stability
How and when the child will spend time with the other parent, including travel arrangements and costs
How regular indirect contact (video calls, messaging) will be maintained
Providing clear, detailed information helps the other parent and, if necessary, the court assess whether the move is genuinely in the child's interests.
