Child Arrangement Order in Wigan

When a relationship breaks down, it can feel as though everything shifts at once. You’re trying to manage your own next steps, while still making sure your children come first. Conversations about where they’ll live or how time will be shared aren’t always straightforward, and it’s common to feel unsure about what’s fair or realistic. Getting legal advice from an expert solicitor early in the process can give you reassurance about your options and help you handle discussions in a steady, constructive way that keeps the focus on your children’s well-being.

If you think you need a child arrangement order in Wigan, we can help. At Farleys, we’ve been helping families across the North West for over 65 years now, and we’re known for our outstanding expertise across a wide spectrum of family law cases. We’re dedicated to making the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible, helping you and your family move forward with the best possible outcome.

To speak to one of our experts, you can complete our online enquiry form or give us a call on 01254 606 008 today to get started.

How can our child arrangement order solicitors in Wigan help you?

A child arrangement order is a legally binding order designed to establish arrangements for your family going forward. You may be more familiar with older terms like ‘residence’ and ‘contact’ orders, which were replaced by this more modern framework in 2014. Today’s orders focus on decisions that prioritise the child’s well-being over parental claims. They cover a variety of areas, including:

• Living arrangements – establishing where your child or children will live based on what best suits them and their needs; this can mean options like a 50/50 split or dividing weekdays or weekends.

• Contact arrangements – deciding how your child will contact their non-residential parents, with methods including phone calls, video calls, or face-to-face meetings. Child arrangement orders can also cover contact with other family members (e.g. grandparents, siblings, etc.). If there are any safeguarding issues, contact may need to be kept indirect or supervised. In these cases, our expert team can advise you on your best course of action.

• Special occasions and holidays – outlining where your child will spend occasions, potentially alternating or splitting events like birthdays, Christmas and school holidays. This helps to make sure that both parents have meaningful time with their child throughout the year.

• Neutral handovers – organising neutral handovers, ensuring the transition minimises disruption and stress for everyone involved. Handovers can take place at a supervised or public location, and may sometimes involve the assistance of other family members or third-party professionals to ensure the transition is safe, smooth, and consistent.

Additional legal orders and protections

When dealing with a child arrangements order, it may become apparent that further legal steps are needed to properly protect your child’s interests. If additional measures are required, our team is ready to advise and guide you through the next stage. We can provide clear support with further applications or proceedings, including:

• Prohibited Steps Orders (PSO) – preventing specific actions like relocation, name changes, etc. These orders are used to safeguard a child’s welfare where there is concern that a proposed step may not be in their best interests.

• Specific Issues Orders (SIO) – working to settle disputes so that all parties can proceed with understanding and structure; this includes decisions over your child’s schooling and future medical treatment.

Every case is different, and the right approach can vary from client to client. Whatever your circumstances involve, our child arrangement order solicitors in Wigan will always work with you to understand your concerns and wishes, and proceed with your child’s welfare in mind at all times.

The role of mediation

At Farleys, we’re proud members of the organisation Resolution, which reflects our dedication to reaching amicable settlements and avoiding conflict wherever possible. We know that mediation plays an important role in most child arrangement order cases, providing a neutral, safe space for all parties to express themselves and work together to calmly reach a solution that works for your child. With that in mind, in cases involving serious safeguarding issues, mediation may not be appropriate, and court may be inevitable. We understand that this sounds daunting, but our expert solicitors will be by your side from day one, making sure you have the support you need at every stage.

Why choose us to handle your child arrangement order in Wigan?

As a parent, your primary concern is the happiness and well-being of your children. Knowing where to begin or how to proceed can be challenging, which is where we come in. At Farleys, our team of family law experts have handled thousands of cases over the last few decades, and we know that having knowledgeable legal support behind you makes all the difference. In this complex time, we’ll work to restore peace of mind and a sense of control, making sure you always understand how your case is progressing and what to expect next. We also know that one of the most intimidating elements of any legal case is the jargon, which is why we always keep information accessible and easy to digest.

Your child’s welfare is our number one priority, and however unusual or challenging your case may be, we’re here to help you protect them while establishing foundations for a secure, stable future. It’s this commitment to excellence that has earned us recognition by both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.