In an ideal world, following a separation, parents will be able to come to an amicable agreement concerning the arrangements for their children (e.g., who the child lives with – the resident parent – and when they can see the non-resident parent). This is beneficial to not only you but also your children.
However, in many instances, this isn’t the case and there are often bad feelings between parents and their families, which can lead to disagreements regarding living or contact arrangements. Understandably, this often has a negative impact on the children and can lead to distressing, costly, and lengthy Court proceedings.
If you and your partner cannot come to an agreement concerning child arrangements, then the next step is family mediation. The Government is looking to fund mandatory mediation for separating couples which will mean that couples have to attempt to agree on their child custody and financial arrangements through a qualified mediator with Court action being a final resort. Mediation should always be explored as a way of resolving disputes unless there is abuse in a relationship.
Mediation can be a cost-effective way of resolving your matters amicably and not having to go through a long Court battle. However, if you still cannot agree then it will be necessary to apply to the Court for orders regarding the care of your children.