Do you need to involve lawyers or would your money be better spent seeking the help of a co-parenting coach (or similar) to help you work through your parenting issues?
If you and the other parent have already worked out child arrangements that you and your children are happy with, you do not need us. There is no legal requirement to formalise arrangements that are working, and we would always say so rather than create work where none is needed.
Where agreement has not been possible, we can help.
Why child arrangements cases are different
Disputes about children are not like financial disputes. The legal framework is clear: the welfare of the child is the court's paramount consideration, and everything else flows from that. But many of the disagreements we see between parents are not really about welfare in the legal sense. They are about different parenting styles, different routines, different views on what a good childhood looks like. Recognising that distinction early matters, because it shapes how the matter should be approached and what kind of help is actually useful.
Involving lawyers or a judge is sometimes necessary. It is also costly and stressful, and not always the fastest route to a workable arrangement. We will be straight with you about which situation you are in.
Choosing the right approach
The options available to you include solicitor-led negotiation, mediation, non-court dispute resolution and, where necessary, an application to the family court for a child arrangements order. Each involves different timescales, costs and dynamics, and the right choice depends on your specific circumstances and, significantly, on the other parent.
We will explain each option clearly so you can make an informed decision, rather than feeling pushed into a process that does not suit you or pressured into one by the other side.
Before making any application to the family court, you will ordinarily be required to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM), unless an exemption applies, for example, in cases involving domestic abuse.
What drives the cost for child arrangements
The same factors that drive cost in financial cases apply here: how the matter is conducted on both sides, the forum chosen, and the complexity of the issues involved. In child arrangements cases, in particular, the way a case is run can have a direct bearing on the outcome as well as the cost. Correspondence that inflames rather than resolves, or positions taken for their own sake rather than the child's, rarely help and often do the opposite.
We will keep your matter focused on what actually matters. If we think something is not worth pursuing, we will tell you.
When expert evidence is needed
Some cases require input from an independent social worker to prepare a welfare report or a wishes and feelings report, or from a child therapist or counsellor. Where this is necessary, we will obtain an estimate in advance. Costs of this kind are typically shared between the parents. In some cases, a CAFCASS officer will be appointed by the court rather than an independent expert being instructed by the parties.
We're always happy to have a no-obligation chat about the way forward. Visit our contact page or call us on 020 4579 5360.
This page reflects the law in England and Wales. Last reviewed: 12 June 2026
Funding your case
Legal fees can be high and come at a time of uncertainty, there is no hiding this. We realise this and want to ensure that instructing FLC is something which involves openness on the likely costs and how these can be met.
We have set out our hourly rates and what can be expected in terms of costs here. We have also set out the various options available for funding your case.
We accept: Litigation loans, credit or debit cards, bank transfer.
-
How can I make arrangements?
Any way you like! This can range from discussions between parents, mediation, working with a co-parenting coach, to court hearings with lawyers. It all depends on the relationship between you as parents, it is rarely on the children or the complexity of the issues.
The key point is the dynamic between the two of you; if this is difficult, if there is any kind of abuse or inequality which affects how the discussions occur, it may be better to involve a professional. This can range from a mediator, a counsellor or therapist, a co-parenting coach to a lawyer; sometimes it will require a mix of professionals. It is case and fact dependent.
-
Do I need a court order?
No, in fact if you can agree to the arrangements, the court will not want to get involved. It’s only cases where you cannot agree on the arrangements that a court order is relevant.
A court order has the advantage of being enforceable and clear in terms of the obligations on each parent, and the arrangements which should be in place.
In all cases, it is sensible to write down the arrangements so both parents are clear on what is going to happen, and when. This can stop “I thought we had agreed this” from occurring.
-
Can I make once and for all arrangements?
Yes and no: yes in as much as you can have arrangements which continue for a long time. But, child arrangements are different to financial cases; all child arrangements can potentially be varied, in fact it is likely they will change as the children grow older. Child arrangements by their very nature need to be flexible and able to evolve as the children grow up.
-
Will my children have a say in what should happen?
Yes, but how much weight this will have will vary; older children’s views carry more weight, but it will also depend on the child in question. This can be tricky, as children can express different views to each parent. Often the instruction of an independent third party such as an independent social worker or a child therapist can help establish their true wishes and feelings and help prevent them being caught in the middle.
-
What normally happens, are there standard arrangements or a formula?
There is no template which the law applies when families separate. Although many people make similar arrangements, these are not set in stone. The best arrangements are bespoke and practical, reflecting the lives of the parents and the children, their ages and the circumstances of the family unit.
-
Do children always live with their mothers?
No, and there is no legal principle that they should. The Children Act generally refers to parents, and doesn’t place one in a better position than the other. Not everyone agrees with this statement, but the court generally sees parents as equal, both have parental responsibility. What will be relevant is how your family has been structured and how your household has been run. Who has primarily cared for the children and is able to devote more time to their day to day care? Who has the more demanding job? Do you have a nanny or au pair? These factors will play into where the children may live and the overall arrangements for them.
-
What if the other parent doesn't pay maintenance for the children?
There is no connection between the financial arrangements and the child arrangements.