Private Law Children Proceedings

7BR’s family barristers are regularly instructed in private children law applications under the Children Act 1989 and related legislation. Members act at all levels of court – including the High Court and Court of Appeal – for parents, children, extended family members and Children’s Guardians in disputes about the living and contact arrangements for children and young people.

Our work covers the full range of private law children disputes, including:

• Child Arrangement Orders (living and contact arrangements)
• Internal and international relocation and removal from the jurisdiction
• Specific Issue and Prohibited Steps Orders, for example in relation to schooling, religion, medical treatment and change of name
• Special Guardianship Orders and applications by wider family members
• Parental responsibility, paternity and identity issues
• Enforcement and variation applications in existing orders
• Forced Marriage Protection Orders
• Media applications in respect of privacy and media reporting restrictions.

Where the court is likely to be assisted by expert evidence, members can advise on the appropriate disciplines and experts to instruct, helping to keep cases focused and proportionate. 7BR offers the detailed, specialist advice necessary for clients to litigate efficiently and to understand the likely range of outcomes at an early stage.

We recognise that bringing or defending applications in respect of children is stressful and emotionally difficult for parents and grandparents. Our barristers aim to give clear, realistic advice about the process and options from the outset, and to provide strong, child-focused representation at interim hearings, fact-finding hearings and final trials. Clients with issues of paternity, parental responsibility or removal from the jurisdiction benefit from both the trial skills of individual members and the depth of the team’s collective experience in this area.