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Child Arrangements at Christmas

Christmas is a special time of year and for some people, it is about spending quality time with family and loved ones. However, when you separate, it is important to discuss plans for Christmas early with your ex-partner and decide where your children are going to spend Christmas Day and the festive period.

For separated parents and children, the festive season can be a stressful time with disputes over contact and how a child’s time should be divided over the holiday period. What should be a happy and child-focused time can often become tense and upsetting for all involved.

If you can’t resolve Christmas contact arrangements for your children together, commonly the next step is to seek help from an experienced Family Solicitor to see if they can help you reach an agreement.

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We understand that you’ll want to discuss your options and find out more about how we can help. We offer both appointments throughout the day and out of hours to accommodate our clients. We are happy to meet you at our offices across London, Essex or Kent. To find out more please Book Your Free Consultation, call us on 020 3753 4667 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What steps can be taken if Christmas contact arrangements cannot be agreed?

Consult a Family Law Solicitor in the first instance. They will provide you with further advice and guidance on how to reach an agreement directly. If all efforts have been exhausted, they can write to your ex-partner to agree arrangements on your behalf. This will result in a formal arrangement being recorded in writing.

For some families, child arrangements are predetermined by the Court. It is quite common for such agreements to set out exactly which days a child will spend with each parent during the Christmas holidays. The Court would typically expect the holidays to be shared fairly and with the children’s best interests as the main consideration.

It is extremely important for both parents to acknowledge the detrimental impact contact disputes can have on children and to remain mindful of the fact that the child’s welfare and happiness should be at the forefront of any arrangements regarding their care.

Child Arrangement Order (CAO)

The Court can make a decision as to the living arrangements for a child and who they should spend time with, this is called a Child Arrangement Order (CAO).

Sufficient time should be given to allow all other avenues of to be explored first and if Court proceedings are unavoidable, you should bear in mind that the later the application is lodged, the less likely the Court will have availability to hear the matter before Christmas.

If a Child Arrangement Order is in place and there are specific provisions for Christmas, then each parent should comply with this. It is an Order from the Court and therefore if someone breaches an Order there can be serious consequences.

Conclusion

Your rights and legal options will largely depend on your personal circumstances. It is therefore vital that you get expert legal advice at the earliest opportunity. This will give you the information you need to make the best choices for you and your children, ensuring your rights as a parent and your children’s best interests are safeguarded.

Contact our Family Solicitors

The right solicitor changes everything. Anglo Law Solicitors provides expert legal advice on Family Law and Divorce proceedings

Speak directly to a Family solicitor now on 020 3753 4667 or Book Your Free Consultation here.

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