A child arrangement order UK (CAO) is a legal order in the UK made by the family court in which the court states where a child will live, with whom and for how long. It can also state when the child will spend part of the week with the other parent or if he or she can have contact with other family members. Child arrangement orders have now replaced residence and contact orders, for those looking for child custody after divorce UK.

Who can Apply for a Child Arrangements Order?

Now let’s see which relationship can apply for Child Arrangements Order UK:

• Child’s grandparent(s), uncle, aunt, sister, brother, half-brother or half-sister, stepparent (either by marriage or civil partnership), and they have resided with you for more than a year.

• Following the death of a parent, the child’s appointed guardian.

• A foster carer who has consent from everyone with parental responsibility UK.

• A private foster carer who has lived with the child for at least three years straight.

• Children’s services

• Ones who have the CAO or residence order of the child.

In order to apply for the child arrangements order UK, you need to be 18 or over. In case you don’t meet the criteria mentioned above you can still apply to the family court for further permission on who gets custody of child UK.

How Long Does CAO Last?

The child arrangements order explicitly ends when the child turns 18-year-old. If the order is made by local authorities, then it would come to an end when the child turns 18, however a parent can also apply in court to end the order.

What is the purpose of child arrangements order?

Legal acceptance: such orders provide a legally binding framework for childcare and contact arrangements after divorce or separation.

Flexibility: these orders can be customized to individual family situations to fit the specific needs and the child’s age and development stage.

Best interests: these orders priortises the child’s well-being and development while drafting the contract/order.

Support and Protection: the court makes sure that the environment is both stable and secure for the child and they maintain good relationships with both the parents/guardians.

What are the Key Elements of Child Arrangements Order?

Some major elements are as follows:

1-     Primary residence

The order specifically states which parent that child will live with as their primary house.

2-     Contact Arrangements

The order also outlines when and how much time the child will be spending with the other parent, including the weekends, school breaks and holidays.

3-     Maintaining Contacts

Child arrangement orders also highlight other types of contact such as video calls, phone calls and other activities.

4-     Other Issues

Healthcare, schooling and other extracurricular activities are also addressed in this order.

When do Child Arrangement Orders Become Important?

When there are constant disputes among parents and they fail to agree upon mutual agreement, then a child arrangement order becomes necessary. Moreover, when there are concerns about the safety and well-being of the child then the court steps in to make sure the child is in good hands.

In some of the cases parents seek court order to clear the existing arrangements or to address some specific problems.

The Alternatives of Child Arrangements Order

1-     Parenting plans

The parents can draft a written parenting plan which outlines the arrangements which can be an agreement approved from court.

2-     Mediation

A neutral third party can also facilitate negotiations between parents to reach the best living arrangements for children.

What are Parental Responsibilities in CAO?

According to the order one must share parental responsibility with the child’s parents until they turn 18, until the court states otherwise.

You will be making basic decisions about the child, but will need to consult others over major decisions like:

• Medical treatment (except for emergency cases)

• Schooling

• Travel

• Hair cuts

In cases where you need to take the child out of the country, it has to be up to one month only and that too with the permission of everyone else with parental responsibility and if any of them is not agreeing with your decisions, they might apply to the court for an order to stop you.

Do you Need Support from Professionals?

Farani Taylor Solicitors offer a wide range of support for family court child arrangements and understanding of parental responsibility UK. To find more information and services in your local area including best living arrangements for children visit the website or call on this number.