Divorce Solicitors Leeds - West Yorkshire - Child Disputes and Matrimonial law specialists in the Leeds area of the UK
News
Dividing Assets
Not so new now but still a major change in the way assets are divided after divorce. more
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is more common than generally supposed and is a problem for both partners. more
Child Contact
When parents are separating it is vitally important that proper child contact arrangements are made. more
Who owns the house?
When relationships breakdown and couples decide to separate, often the most difficult issue is the occupation of and ownership in the home. moreChild Disputes
Frequently Asked Questions about children disputes:
When
relationships break down and bitterness creeps in fathers sometimes say they want to take the children even though they have spent little time with the kids prior to the divorce. This can either be a genuine belief that the children will be better off with them or maybe just an ill thought out proposal (men usually work full time) or a case of hitting the woman where it hurts most.
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Legal help for both parties usually resolves the problem without going to court enabling parents to prioritize what is best for the children and that usually means the children staying with their mother.
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This is perhaps the most frequent question we get asked but unfortunately the answer is "It depends". If you put yourself in the shoes of the child and can honestly answer another question
".....do I want to know and have a relationship with both my parents?", then you have the answer to the first question. The court will lean over backwards to ensure the child sees both parents but there are many instances of fathers ruining child contact for various reasons which may require a suspension of contact until various issues can be resolved.
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The father of a child who is not married to the mother does not have parental responsibility and, therefore, all the rights, duties, powers and responsibilities which a parent of a child has in relation to the child. If he separates from the mother and the child remains with her as he or she will so often do, then he has no rights to have contact with the child or to have the child living with him, unless it is by agreement with the mother or he is able to acquire such rights and responsibilities under the Children Act 1989.
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- Realize that he could probably be a better father than you give him credit for.
- Believe him when he says he wants to have contact with the children.
- Accept that the children will want to see both parents.
- Realize that only the other parent will ever have as much interest in the child as you.
- For men, understand that the bringing up of the child on your own is a heavy burden and try to help when contact times are agreed. Stick religiously to the times, don't be late and never fail to turn up.
- Make the contact time with your child special. Don't involve your mother, your friends or go down to the pub to meet your friends on contact visits. Try and think how your child would want to spend the time with you.
- Respect the mother of your child, don't talk about her unkindly to the children or ask them what their mother is doing.
These few simple tips will certainly help and for all those separating couples.
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- Divorce
- Child Disputes
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