Details everything around child arrangements (previously child custody).
Reviewed for accuracy Last updated: October 2026 by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK. Reviewed by Belinda Atkins, Managing Director, Family Legal Ltd. Information reflects current family law and court procedure in England and Wales as of 1 October 2026. Key Points CAFCASS is the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support … Read more
Reviewed for accuracy Last updated: September 2026 by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK. Reviewed by Belinda Atkins, Managing Director, Family Legal Ltd. Information reflects current family law and court procedure in England and Wales as of 16 September 2026. Key Points Only the family court can formally vary or discharge an … Read more
Reviewed for accuracy Last updated: September 2026 by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK. Reviewed by Belinda Atkins, Managing Director, Family Legal Ltd. Information reflects current family law and court procedure in England and Wales as of 8 September 2026. Key Points A breach is any failure to do what the order … Read more
Reviewed for accuracy Last updated: August 2026 by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK. Reviewed by Belinda Atkins, Managing Director, Family Legal Ltd. Information reflects current family law and court procedure in England and Wales as of 5 August 2026. Key Points Grandparents have no automatic legal right to see their grandchildren … Read more
Legally Reviewed Updated: July 2026 Reviewed by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK. Information reflects current family law and court procedure in England and Wales as of 15 July 2026. Key Points The welfare checklist is a set of seven factors the family court must weigh up when it decides what is … Read more
Legally Reviewed Updated: JuLY 2026 Reviewed by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK. Information reflects current family law and court procedure in England and Wales as of 1 July 2026. Key Points Yes, you can apply for a prohibited steps order on a C100 form. It is one of the Section 8 … Read more
Legally Reviewed Updated: June 2026 Reviewed by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK. Information reflects current family law and court procedure in England and Wales as of 24th June 2026. Key Points A step-parent has no automatic legal rights over a stepchild, even after marriage or years of caring for them. You … Read more
Legally Reviewed Updated: May 2026 Reviewed by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK. Information reflects current family law and court procedure in England and Wales as of 28 May 2026. Key Points The word “custody” is no longer used in UK family law. Courts now make Child Arrangements Orders that set out … Read more
Fact checked by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK | Last updated: 30.04.2026 Key Takeaways The FHDRA (First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment) is the first court hearing after a C100 application about your children. It usually takes place 4 to 8 weeks after the C100 is filed and lasts around 30 to … Read more
Fact checked by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK | Last updated: 08.04.2026 Key Takeaways A Child Arrangements Order (CAO) sets out where a child lives and how much time they spend with each parent. There are two main types: a “lives with” order and a “spends time with” order, which replaced … Read more