Child Care Solicitors

We always want to provide the best for our children. If you find yourself in a situation where you need legal advice on how to safeguard the interests of your children, Legal 500/Chamber UK Leading Firm, Duncan Lewis can assist; whether in relation to a divorce matter, seeking to secure contact with your children after a separation/divorce or where social services have become involved. Duncan Lewis’ Childcare and Family department consists of a team of highly specialised and experienced solicitors who will ensure your matter is handled with the utmost sensitivity and understanding throughout.

Since April 2013 the Government has introduced many changes to the legal aid rules which consequently make it increasingly difficult for individuals to obtain legal aid funding for legal advice & assistance. However, Duncan Lewis continues to provide legal aid to those most vulnerable in our society where it remains available and has introduced a competitive private fee package for those excluded from legal aid to ensure that you only pay what you can afford.

After a divorce or relationship separation many partners find themselves in a position where they cannot secure contact with their children. Duncan Lewis will assist you in trying to achieve an amicable contact agreement with the other parent of your child via mediation. If mediation is unsuccessful we will advise and assist you in making an application to court for a contact order. Contact proceedings are no longer covered by Legal Aid unless you can provide specific evidence of domestic violence having been perpetrated by the other parent. If such evidence is not available we are able to offer competitive fees for such matters which you can afford.

If Social Services are involved with the care of your children you will need to access legal advice as a matter of urgency. If you can provide evidence of your financial situation and are deemed financially eligible, Duncan Lewis can assist under Legal Aid. If Social Services have advised that they intend to start court proceedings or if court proceedings have already started you will be automatically entitled to free legal advice and representation regardless of your financial situation. If your partner has threatened to take your child out of the country or has already done so, we can assist you to ensure your child’s best interests and wellbeing is safeguarded. Duncan Lewis can assist you in obtaining an Order from the Court to ensure your child is either not removed from the country without your permission or is safely returned.

Parental Responsibility is an important issue to be aware of. Mothers automatically have Parental Responsibility and all fathers who were married to the mother when the child was born, later married the mother or whose name is on the child's birth certificate from December 2003 onwards, have automatic Parental Responsibility. If you have Parental Responsibility you have a right to be involved in all major decisions that will affect your child's life from their health, education, religion to the issue as to whether they are permitted to being taken out of the UK. If you have not been involved in such important issues, you can seek legal advice on such matters. If you are a father who does not have parental responsibility Duncan Lewis can advise you as to how to secure parental responsibility in relation to your child to ensure that you have the peace of mind of knowing that going forward you can begin to demand the best for your children.

Author is Shalini Patel, Trainee Solicitor at Legal 500/Chamber UK Leading Firm, Duncan Lewis.