Divorce & Children

Specialist legal support for going through a divorce which involves children

Home » Services » Divorce & Family » Divorce & Children

Support for divorce and children matters

When a relationship breaks down and children are involved, the emotional and practical challenges can feel overwhelming. From maintaining stability for your children, handling communication with your ex-partner, and making decisions around schooling, living arrangements, and shared parenting time, are just a few of the issues that can arise. These aren’t just legal issues, they’re deeply personal, and it’s okay to feel uncertain or anxious about getting it right.

At Goughs, we understand that when divorce involves children, ensuring their continued wellbeing and security is at the heart of every decision you make. You’re already putting your child’s needs first, and that’s something to be proud of. Our job is to support you through the process with compassion, clarity, and expert advice, so you feel informed, confident, and empowered to make the best choices for your family.

Key Contact

Georgina Catlin

Associate

Steps you can take now to help your child

When preparing for shared parenting after separation, it helps to focus on practical steps that support your child’s wellbeing and maintain stability:

Documenting your priorities: Think about routines, school schedules, extracurricular activities, and emotional needs.

Open communication: Try to aim for constructive conversations with your ex-partner. If this proves too difficult, we can support with mediation or solicitor-led negotiation.

Create a co-parenting plan: A clear, written plan can help avoid future disputes and keep everyone focused on the child’s best interests.

Planning for long-term parenting solutions

From school holidays and special occasions to managing big transitions like new partners or relocation, it’s natural to feel unsure about how best to handle what lies ahead. There are aspects of you can look to plan or think about before going through the divorce to help ease any issues with your children.

Summer holidays

Summer holidays can be challenging, especially with your work commitments, but what you can start to plan is:

Is the time with your children going to split 50/50? Or tailors around both your work patterns?
Will there be alternate weeks to have your children?
Will you agree on limits around international holidays or set boundaries?

Christmas and other public holidays

Special occasions like Christmas and birthdays (or any other religious or important day), can be emotionally difficult, so planning ahead can help avoid stress and keep structure to both yours and your children’s lives. Here is what you can start to plan:

Will days like Christmas be split (half-days each), or will you have alternate years?
How will birthdays be handled? With the same agreements like Christmas or a different plan?
Will the same plan be followed for half-term or public holidays? (easter or bank holidays)

Future changes to parents life

Even if things have settled now, it’s best to have a plan for life’s curveballs. This can be around:

Relocations: How will you manage relocating or changing schools?

Family: What will be the plan if one parent starts a new relationship or family?

Communication: How will both parents’ communication be handled over time? Will this be directly, through apps/phones, or with third-party support?

Speak to a solicitor

Whether you are going through a divorce and need to instruct a solictor, or you have some questions that you would like a solictor to answer, we can help. You can call, email or come into one of our seven offices.

Call us

With seven offices around the South West of England, we have multiple offices you can call.

Select the office to call

Email us

If you would like to drop us an email you can on info@goughs.co.uk

Visit us

With offices in Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Melksham and Trowbridge, you can pop in and see us. View office locations.

Putting your children's needs first

No two separations are the same. That’s why our approach is always rooted in understanding your specific circumstances and helping you prioritise your child’s well being; whether it’s emotionally, physically or educationally. We’ll help you understand the legal principles that underpin child arrangements, including the court’s primary focus on the best interests of the child. And if court involvement becomes necessary, we’ll be right beside you, applying for Child Arrangements Orders or Specific Issue Orders where needed.

We can support you with

Child Arrangements Orders (CAOs)
Specific Issue Orders (e.g., schooling choices or medical decisions)
Prohibited Steps Orders (e.g., preventing relocation without consent)
Ensuring a child’s wishes and feelings are considered, where appropriate

Steps you can take today

Talk to your child: Let them feel included and heard.
Keep a journal: Record behaviours, concerns, or incidents that may help in legal proceedings if needed.
Seek professional advice: Even an informal conversation with a solicitor can help you feel more in control.

Understanding child arrangements

Making arrangements for your children after separation can be one of the most emotionally difficult parts of a breakup. You may be asking yourself where your children will feel most settled, how to maintain consistent routines, or how both parents can stay involved in their lives in a way that works. These are complex and deeply personal questions, and you don’t have to face them alone.

We’ll help you agree on practical arrangements, such as where your child will live, how time will be shared, and how important decisions will be made. Wherever possible, we aim to reduce stress and avoid conflict, using negotiation or mediation to find a path forward that’s fair, respectful, and centred on your child.

Your child’s welfare is your top priority. We make it ours too.

Your local family law solicitor since 1882

Your children related questions answered

How can I best protect my children?

The advice here might sound obvious, but it really is worth bearing in mind to minimise any disruption to children, during what is bound to be a turbulent and emotional time for everyone involved.

Co-Parent – wherever possible it is important that both parents appear to be on the same page for all matters related to your children. Communication and consultation are key.
Keep arguments away – whilst emotions are running high it is very easy to lose sight of this. Children exposed to arguments in the home are bound to feel much more stress than those in a peaceful environment. Children benefit from having a positive view of each parent.
Reduce your stress – take time for yourself and do what you need to reduce your stress levels. This will ultimately rub off on your children and help to maintain a happier and calmer household.
Maintain routines – both adults and children alike need routine to help us function so where possible, keep your children’s routines as regular as they were before the relationship breakdown.

For more advice from a dedicated children lawyer, please get in touch with the team at Goughs.

How much time can I expect to have with my children?

The only reason you may need to go to court is where the parents really can’t agree on how to share care of the children. Before court proceedings, however, we would usually try mediation.

The amount of contact you are likely to get will depend wholly on your circumstances and what both parents want, alongside of course, what is in the best interests of the children.

Do I have to go to court to have contact with my children?

We’d go so far as to say that, for most people, Court proceedings should be a last resort, but if necessary we can guide you through the process of applying for a Child Arrangements Order, a Prohibited Steps Order or a Specific Issue Order.

There’s no substitute for specific expert advice tailored to you and your family, but the following summary of the core principles of the law relating to children may be useful. Although these principles repeatedly mention the Court, the majority of cases dealing with children never go to Court:

– The child’s welfare is paramount in deciding all questions about his/her upbringing and property.

– Delay in deciding any question with respect to the child’s upbringing is likely to prejudice the child’s welfare.

– The Court should not make any Order unless to do so is considered better for the child than making no Order.

– The Court should, when applying the first principle above, pay particular regard to the following:-

The ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in the light of his/her age and understanding)
His/her physical and emotional and educational needs
The likely effect on him/her of any change in his/her circumstances
His/her age, sex, background and any other characteristics which the Court consider relevant
Any harm which he/she has suffered or is at risk of suffering
How capable each of his/her parents, and any other person in relation to whom the Court considers the question to be relevant, is of meeting his/her needs
The range of powers available to the Court under the Children Act in the proceedings in question

Our clients rate us as excellent

Chambers & Partners

The team is extremely thorough and client-focused. They are willing to go the extra mile and think outside the box.

P B, Corsham

Thank you for all your help, guidance and understanding. You and your team have been outstanding during a very difficult time and managed the case through to a highly satisfactory conclusion.

More Google reviews

T H, Chippenham

I could not have wished for a more professional dedicated team, I am so grateful for all their help and support, I would highly recommend Goughs solicitors to family and friends.

Legal 500

The practice is very unique in that the service is so personal and impeccable. Attention is given to ALL detail and communication is frequent and timely.

I could not have wished for a more professional dedicated team, I am so grateful for all their help and support, I would highly recommend Goughs solicitors to family and friends.

More Google reviews