Page 35 - Federation Magazine: April/May 2018

Making arrangements

for your children after

separation

By Kaleel Anwar, I want to make an application to the Family My ex-partner has been violent towards me
associate in family law at Court – what do I need to know? – will the court take this into account?
Slater and Gordon If you do decide to make an application, you The Family Court takes any domestic
must have attended an initial meeting with violence extremely seriously. The court may
Going Call us Afamily break up or and Assessment Meeting (MIAM). Such a hear the allegations of domestic abuse and
set up a ‘finding of fact’ hearing so it can
nyone who’s
a mediator called a ‘Mediation Information
experienced a
decide whether contact is in the children’s
meeting may not be necessary if you’ve been
best interests. A court also has the power to
the victim of domestic violence. Once the
has lost contact with their
order a party to attend a domestic abuse
court has your application, it’ll refer your
children knows how
through a before your difficult life can be. case to CAFCASS and set a date for the first perpetrator programme. These courses help
people who’ve been abusive to partners to
hearing.
It’s often extremely upsetting for

change their behaviour and develop
everyone involved, especially the children.
What is CAFCASS?
respectful, non-abusive relationships.
It stands for the Children and Family Court
They’re in the middle of the dispute between
How will the court make a decision about
their parents and are often most harmed by
Advisory and Support Service. It’s
divorce? ex does. the ordeal. independent of the court and social services. my children seeing my ex-partner?
The law makes it very clear that the welfare
It’s there to help you and your ex-partner
It’s helpful for parents to try and see

of the children is the court’s paramount
reach a safe agreement about the
issues from their children’s perspective. Most
children want to maintain a relationship
what’s best for your children. It puts the
with both of their parents and they want arrangements for your children. Before the consideration. Any order is an assessment of
first hearing, it’ll carry out background safety
their parents to try and reach agreement. checks with the police and social services to children at the heart of the decision. The
Here are a few answer to some of the find out if there are any safety or welfare Family Court will take into account the
We’ve been working with the most frequently asked questions: issues connected to your family. A worker evidence from you, your ex-partner and the
Police Federation for over fifty I can’t agree the contact arrangements with from CAFCASS will also telephone you and recommendation made in the CAFCASS
years – longer than any other my ex-partner. What should I do? your ex-partner to find out more about the report. Quite often, the views of older
firm. No one understands It might be that you need a little extra help current circumstances. children will carry a lot of weight.
better the unique pressures of to reach agreement about your children and What happens at the first court hearing? Our award winning team has years of
police work, and how to protect one option would be to think about The aim of this hearing is to see whether it’s experience representing parents who are
your rights – especially your mediation. A mediator is an independent possible for you and your ex-partner to make going through children disputes to secure
pension. If you’re going through person who helps people without being on a safe agreement for your children which the the best possible outcome. If you’d like
specialist advice from a family lawyer please
a divorce, we offer a free initial anyone’s ‘side’. There are other options such court could approve. The court will also try contact Slater and Gordon on 0808 175 7710
and narrow down the issues between you. A
as the Separated Parents Information
Kaleel Anwar consultation, fixed fee packages, Programme (SPIPs). This is a course that’s CAFCASS worker and the judge will speak to and we’ll be happy to help.
Associate in Family discounted rates and flexible designed to help parents become clear both parents. Sometimes it’s possible to
Law at Slater and payment options plus give you about what their children need most from reach a satisfactory agreement and a final
Gordon access to some of the country’s them and learn the fundamental principles order could be made at that hearing. If no
best family lawyers. of how to manage conflict between agreement can be reached, the court will ask
separated parents. It shows parents practical CAFCASS to do a full report which will involve
If you think we could help, call us solutions to help their family make the best making detailed enquiries which will involve
on 0808 175 7710 decisions for their children. a worker meeting with your children.
slatergordon.co.uk/police-law
Offices throughout the UK.

www.westmidspolfed.com federation April/May 2018 35
Slater and Gordon (UK) LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.