Fitz Solicitors can provide expert legal guidance and support with child arrangement orders (CAO).
What is a Child Arrangement Order?
A child arrangement order is a legal order made by a family court. It details where a child will live, who they can spend time with, and what amount of time they can spend with that person/those people.
The child arrangement order has replaced contact and residence orders.
Who Applies for A Child Arrangement Order?
Several people can apply for child arrangement orders, including:
- A child’s grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister, half-sibling, or step-parent, as long as the child has lived with them for longer than a year.
- A child’s appointed guardian, following the death of a parent.
- A foster carer, again, so long as the child has lived with them for more than three years.
Other people can apply for a child arrangement order if they have consent from:
- Anyone and everyone else who has parental responsibility.
- Children’s services, if the child is in the care system.
Restrictions for applying:
- Applicants must be over 18.
- A CAO can not usually be arranged for a child over 16.
Applying for a CAO
Applications can be made online, or you can get help from a solicitor. Legal advice is preferable, as you need to understand all of your options before you apply for a CAO.
Before you can apply, you might be asked to attend an MIAM. An MIAM is a mediation, information and assessment meeting. Attending this meeting aims to help everyone agree on the care arrangements before an application for a CAO is made.
How We Help
A CAO is an essential, legal step for establishing clear arrangements for a child, post-separation or divorce. The process can be daunting, and understanding each step is important. Our professional solicitors can help ensure an arrangement that prioritises the well-being of the child.