Child Arrangements Solicitors in Sheffield
Trusted Sheffield family law solicitors for child arrangements orders. Expert advice when it matters most. Our dedicated team helps parents resolve child arrangements with clarity and care, always prioritising your child’s welfare.
Expert legal advice for child arrangements and contact disputes
Our Sheffield family law team are specialists in child arrangements and contact disputes. We understand that relationship breakdown is a challenging time for everyone, particularly where children are involved. Your first concern will always be your child’s welfare.
Following separation, you may be adjusting to life as co-parents. Unfortunately, agreeing care arrangements isn’t always straightforward. If disputes arise, or if you need to protect your child from unsafe parenting or domestic abuse, our team can guide you towards a solution.
We offer a no-obligation initial consultation to understand your needs and assemble the best legal team for your case. You’ll find us approachable and supportive throughout the process.
What is a child arrangements order?
A Child Arrangements Order (CAO) is a legally binding order made by the family court. It sets out where your child will live and with whom they will spend time or have contact. “Live with” orders can apply to one parent or both under a joint arrangement. Previously known as “residence” or “contact” orders, child arrangement orders now use child-focused language, avoiding terms such as custody.
What can a child arrangements order do?
A child arrangements order can:
- Specify who the child lives with (one parent, both parents under shared care or another significant person such as a grandparent)
- Set out a schedule for shared care arrangements
- Regulate direct contact (face-to-face) and indirect contact (phone calls, video calls, letters)
- Include directions for handovers, holiday arrangements, special occasions, and communication between parents
- Require supervised contact or restrict exposure to unsafe individuals
Get in touch
Start with an initial no-obligation consultation and let us guide you through your options.
What happens if a child arrangements order is broken?
If someone breaches a child arrangements order without reasonable excuse, the court can enforce the order. Penalties range from fines and community service to, in extreme cases, imprisonment. The court can also make further orders to protect the child’s welfare, including changing where the child lives.
What if circumstances change?
A child arrangements order can be varied or discharged if circumstances change, always with the child’s best interests as the court’s primary consideration. Many orders include flexibility for parents to agree additional contact without returning to court.
How does the court decide?
The child’s welfare is the court’s paramount consideration. Decisions are guided by the welfare checklist, which includes:
- The child’s wishes and feelings (considered in light of age and understanding)
- Physical, emotional, and educational needs
- The likely effect of any change in circumstances
- Age, sex, background and relevant characteristics
- Any harm suffered or risk of harm
- Each parent’s ability to meet the child’s needs
Currently, there is a presumption that involvement of both parents benefits the child’s welfare. However, the government has announced plans to remove this presumption, which has raised concerns for some parents.
What can a child arrangements order not do?
A child arrangements order cannot remove parental responsibility from a parent. Even if a child lives entirely with one parent, the legal rights and responsibilities of both parents remain, unless there is a separate court order removing them (which is rare and usually only applies in very serious cases).
A child arrangements order does not cover every aspect of a child’s life; it focuses on the main issues of where the child lives and with whom they spend time. For specific disputes, such as whether a child should go to a particular school or undergo a medical procedure, a “specific issue order” may be required. The court will not micro-manage a family’s life or be the third parent.
In most instances a child arrangements order remains in force until the child is 16 (or 18 in exceptional circumstances), unless the court varies or discharges it. The order stops if both parents resume living together for more than six months.
While a child arrangements order sets out what should happen, it cannot absolutely guarantee that both parents will stick to the arrangements. Enforcement mechanisms are available if breaches occur, but the court cannot force good relationships or cooperation between adults.
The child’s wishes and feelings are a key part of the welfare checklist, particularly as they get older and more mature. The court will weigh these wishes against other factors but will not necessarily follow them if it believes doing so would not be in the child’s best interests. However, the older a child gets, the more likely they will “vote with their feet” and ignore the schedule imposed on them by the judge.
Why choose us?
When it comes to child arrangements and contact disputes, you need a team that combines expertise with empathy. Our Sheffield family law solicitors are highly ranked by leading legal directories and trusted for their practical, client-focused approach. We guide you through every step, ensuring your child’s welfare remains the priority.
Specialist expertise in child law
Our team focuses on child arrangements and contact disputes, offering tailored advice for complex cases, including safeguarding and domestic abuse concerns.
Recognised for excellence
Ranked by The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, we are known for our clear communication, cost-conscious approach and strong advocacy.
Local knowledge with national reach
Based in Sheffield, we combine deep understanding of local courts and procedures with the resources of a leading national firm.
Supportive and approachable service
We offer a no-obligation initial consultation and provide compassionate guidance throughout, helping you navigate a challenging time with confidence.
Testimonials
"I’ve found Freeths to be sensible in their approach, realistic with clients, and good at avoiding unnecessary conflict. They also strike the right...
The Legal 500, 2026
"The practice is unique is my experience because of the spread of regional locations, which has led to a very specific knowledge of local markets,...
The Legal 500, 2026
"The team have taken steps to contain my costs when necessary and have responded in a clear and concise fashion to my queries."
Chambers & Partners, 2026
"The Freeths team have an excellent manner of handling big cases with a personal touch and being able to advocate for their client strongly without...
Chambers & Partners, 2026
"The department is very understanding with emotional issues people are going through. I felt they were very professional, helpful, kind and knew wh...
Chambers & Partners, 2026
"Freeths has a real breadth of family specialisms and collectively significant experience in the field of family law, particularly on complex finan...
Chambers & Partners, 2026
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