We don’t generalise, we specialise in complex family and child law matters.
If you need legal advice on a Children’s Law matter, our 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 children’s law following separation, divorce, and relationship breakdown. Ranked in Chambers and Partners for family and divorce law, we have represented parents and families in Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, and the wider Thames Valley for over 20 years. We established our firm in 2005 with a clear focus on handling complex family cases involving children with the rigour, legal strategy, and sensitivity they require.
Our extensive experience in children’s law enables us to advise with precision and sensitivity on child arrangements, relocation, parental responsibility, safeguarding concerns, and financial provision for children. We are a tight-knit team dedicated to protecting your children’s welfare and securing practical, child‑focused solutions. We will guide you through every stage of the process so that you understand your options and feel supported in making decisions about your children’s futures.
As members of Resolution, we prioritise amicable resolution wherever possible, offering mediation, collaborative law, arbitration, and early neutral evaluation alongside traditional Family Court representation.
What We Do
Our child law services
We can assist with any legal issue involving your children in England and Wales, including:
Child arrangements after separation or divorce, including where your children will live and how they spend time with each parent.
Parenting Plans and Parental Agreements to record agreed arrangements in a clear, workable form.
Child Arrangements Orders, including “lives with” and “spends time with” orders, where agreement cannot be reached.
Parental responsibility applications, including for fathers, step-parents, and extended family, where appropriate.
Specific Issue and Prohibited Steps Orders, for example, relating to schooling, medical treatment, travel, or surname changes.
Relocation within the UK and international relocation applications, including opposing or defending such applications.
Holiday arrangements and taking children abroad, including consent requirements and resolving disagreements.
Safeguarding concerns, including cases involving allegations of domestic abuse, coercive control, or substance misuse.
Financial provision for children, including advice on child maintenance, school fees and additional expenses.
Representation in Children Act 1989 proceedings at court and in family law arbitration, where a decision is needed.
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 members of Resolution, we are bound by a Code of Practice that reflects our philosophy. Regardless of the circumstances of your case, we work towards fair, dignified outcomes that protect your interests and your children’s well-being. We have spent more than 20 years proving that excellent legal representation doesn’t need to be aggressive or cost-prohibitive. Instead, it demands clarity, strategic thinking, and an unwavering focus on what truly matters to you and your family.
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 your children’s law matters?
Recognised as a Band 2 Leading Firm in Chambers and Partners, our team regularly advises and represents parents in Children Act proceedings and complex child-related disputes. This ranking reflects not just our legal expertise but also our track record in resolving disputes involving children, with a clear focus on their welfare.
We are committed to treating you and your children with the care and understanding you deserve. We know that no two families are the same, and we never lose sight of your children’s individual needs. Whether your case involves relatively straightforward child arrangements or complex issues such as relocation or safeguarding concerns, we bring analytical rigour and genuine human compassion to every case.
By entrusting one of our children’s law solicitors to advise and, where necessary, represent you, you can reduce the emotional burden and ensure your child’s voice and welfare remain at the centre of any decisions. We aim to find practical, sustainable arrangements that work for your family.
If you have a Child Arrangements Order stating that the child lives with you, you can usually take them abroad for up to 28 days without the other parent’s consent, provided there is no order to the contrary. For longer trips or permanent relocation, or if there is no such order, you will normally need the other parent’s written agreement or a court order.
Disputes about holidays and travel abroad are common. We can advise you on when consent is required, how to document agreements, and what to do if consent is refused.
Do I need a solicitor for children’s arrangements?
You are not legally required to instruct a solicitor, but specialist children’s law advice is strongly recommended if:
You cannot agree on arrangements for your children
There are safeguarding or welfare concerns
One parent wants to relocate within the UK or abroad
You are being prevented from seeing your child
Court proceedings have been started or are likely
A solicitor can help you understand your rights and options, negotiate on your behalf, and represent you in court or arbitration if needed.
Do we have to go to court to resolve child arrangements?
No. Many cases are resolved without court proceedings. Options include:
Direct discussions between you as parents
Mediation, where an independent mediator helps you reach agreement
Child‑inclusive mediation in appropriate cases, where a trained mediator hears from your child in a safe, age‑appropriate way
Solicitor‑assisted negotiation, including round‑table meetings
Family arbitration, where a specialist arbitrator makes a binding decision if you cannot agree
The court should usually be a last resort, reserved for cases where agreement is not possible or where there are significant safeguarding concerns.
How do I choose the right children’s law solicitor?
Specialisation comes first. Choose a solicitor who focuses on family law and regularly handles children’s cases, including Child Arrangements Orders and relocation.
Experience matters. Ask whether they have experience with issues similar to yours, such as safeguarding concerns, shared care arrangements, or international elements.
Look at their approach. At Purcell Solicitors, we are skilled in negotiation, mediation and arbitration and will recommend the most appropriate route for your circumstances. We aim for child‑focused, out‑of‑court solutions where possible, but are experienced advocates when court proceedings are necessary.
Communication style matters. You will work closely with your solicitor at a difficult time. Choose someone who explains options clearly, respects your concerns, and remains focused on your children’s welfare.
How does the court decide what is in a child’s best interests?
When the court has to make a decision, it applies the “welfare checklist” in the Children Act 1989. This includes factors such as:
The child’s wishes and feelings, in light of their age and understanding
Their physical, emotional and educational needs
The likely effect of any change in circumstances
Any harm they have suffered or are at risk of suffering
How capable each parent is of meeting their needs
The law assumes it is usually in a child’s best interests to have a meaningful relationship with both parents, provided it is safe and appropriate.
How is child maintenance decided?
Parents are legally responsible for financially supporting their children. In most cases, day-to-day child maintenance is agreed between the parents informally. If an agreement cannot be reached then a formal child maintenance assessment is handled through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), which uses a formula based on the paying parent’s gross income, the number of children, and the number of nights spent with each parent.
In higher‑income or more complex cases, the court can make additional orders, for example, for school fees or specific expenses. We can advise on your options and how best to approach child maintenance negotiations or applications.
How much does children’s law advice 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.
Is “custody” still used in children’s cases?
No. The term “custody” is no longer used in English law, even though it still appears in everyday language and media. The court now makes Child Arrangements Orders which state who the child “lives with” and who the child “spends time with” or “has contact with”.
This change of language is designed to reduce the sense of one parent “winning” or “losing” and to focus on practical arrangements that serve the child’s welfare.
What if I am worried about my child’s safety?
If you have genuine concerns about your child’s safety, such as domestic abuse, substance misuse, neglect or other safeguarding issues, you should seek legal advice urgently. Safeguarding checks are carried out in all Children Act applications, often involving CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service), which can advise the court on any risks.
The court can make orders that limit or supervise contact where necessary to protect a child, and in very serious cases may suspend contact altogether.
What is a Child Arrangements Order?
A Child Arrangements Order is a court order that sets out where a child lives, when they spend time with the non-resident parent, and how holidays and special occasions are shared. Orders can state that a child “lives with” one parent and “spends time with” the other, or that a child “lives with” both parents, with care shared.
In many cases, once a clear routine is established and parents gain confidence in the arrangements, there is no need to return to court unless circumstances change.
What questions should I ask a children’s law solicitor at my first meeting?
Your initial consultation is an opportunity to see whether the solicitor is right for you and to understand what to expect.
Ask about their experience with child arrangements and Children Act proceedings.
Discuss likely options for resolving your case, including mediation, negotiation, and court.
Ask about timescales and what the next steps might be in your situation.
Discuss fees and how costs will be managed and explained.
Ask who will handle your case day‑to‑day and how you will be kept updated.
Whilst no solicitor can guarantee outcomes, an experienced practitioner can give realistic parameters based on your circumstances and the issues involved.
Who decides where our children will live after separation?
In most cases, parents decide on arrangements themselves, often through informal discussions or with the help of solicitors or mediators. The law encourages parents to agree on a pattern that works for their children, rather than imposing a standard formula.
If you cannot agree, the court can make a Child Arrangements Order setting out where your child will live and when they will spend time with the other parent. The focus is always on what is in the child’s best interests, not on what either parent feels entitled to.
Will my children have to speak to a judge?
In most cases, children are not required to meet the judge directly. Their wishes and feelings can be gathered through CAFCASS or an independent social worker, if appointed by the Court, who speaks to them in an age‑appropriate way. The aim is to understand the child’s perspective without placing them in the middle of the dispute or asking them to choose between parents. Often the Court do not require a CAFCASS or independent social worker to be appointed to speak with the children and the Court can make an Order after hearing from the parents.
In some cases involving older children, the court may arrange a brief, informal meeting so the judge can hear from them directly, but this is carefully managed.
