Child Arrangements through the Christmas period

The festive period is commonly shown as igniting positivity and joy to all. However, for many in society, this is simply not the case and does not reflect their circumstance. The Christmas period is incredibly hard for so many families, with January being the most popular time of year for initiating divorce proceedings. Here at Family Law Group, we seek to provide assistance in these hard times. We are experts in Family Law, specialising in:

• Children (Child Arrangements, Parental Responsibility)
• Care and Social Services (Adoption and Special Guardianship, Care proceedings, Child Arrangements,     Emergency Protection Orders, Injunctions)
• Relationship Breakdown (Civil Partnerships, Domestic Abuse, Divorce, Forced Marriage, Separation     after living together)
• Relationship Finance (Divorce Assets and Pensions, Child Maintenance, Divorce Financial     Remedies)
• Domestic Abuse (Injunctions, Forced Marriage)
• Mediation (Mediation and MIAMS, Skype Mediation)
• Non-accidental Injury (Advice on NAI cases)
• LGBTQIA Couples (Advice for same sex couples and LGBTQIA families)

As Christmas is known for being a time for family and togetherness, for separated parents and their children, managing contact arrangements can be exceptionally difficult. We can assist with navigating the complexities of new routines and shared time by encouraging open communication and making transitions as smooth as possible. As noted above, we offer mediation services and advice on children matters so that informed decisions can be made. Our fixed fee letter service is available for the clients that do not wish to speak directly to the other party themselves.

Alcohol can be a common feature in festivities, leading to undesirable behaviour and amplifying issues within relationships. Large quantities of alcohol can be a cause for triggering verbal and/or physical abuse. Alcohol consumption, coupled with a lack of access to support services during this time, can lead survivors of domestic abuse to feel exceptionally vulnerable and alone. We would seek to remind readers that we have an out of hours phoneline and can provide advice surrounding non-molestation and occupation orders.

Regarding divorce, we offer a fixed price and remain approachable and communicable with clients. We also have links with holistic support agencies, as we understand the emotional toil that can accompany divorce proceedings.

This time of year heightens emotions for all involved when going through difficult times. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly staff if you would like to hear more about how we may be able to help.

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Brogan Kelly, FLD Paralegal

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