The news of the deaths of Emma Pattison and her daughter Lettie, believed to be at the hands of Emma’s husband and Lettie’s father, has led to shock waves and widespread condemnation in the media and society. In her tribute to her friend and colleague the head of the Girls Day School Trust, Cheryl Giovannoni, made the chilling comment that ‘it doesn’t matter how brilliant or successful a woman is she is only as safe as her male partner allows her to be’. Her comment highlights the fact that domestic abuse has no niche and indeed transcends society. It also brings into sharp focus the fact that in many instances children are not protected in these relationships and indeed can be victims themselves. This interplay between domestic abuse and child contact is the subject of a study by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research published just this month.
child contact
How do separated parents do holidays?
School’s out for summer
Holidays are here again…The start of the summer holidays marks great excitement for many children across Scotland this week. However, some of their parents may not feel the same way. Holiday time can be very stressful for parents and carers who can be juggling work and/or other commitments with providing care for their children. It can be particularly difficult for parents who are separated. When organising holidays these parents may be trying to accommodate not only their own schedules, those of their children and their former partners, but potentially also those of any new partners, their children and the new partners’ former partners! It can, therefore, all become very overwhelming.
COVID-19 and Updated Guidance on Child Contact
New guidance was issued at the end of last week regarding compliance with court orders relating to Parental Rights and Responsibilities (PRRs). [Read more…] about COVID-19 and Updated Guidance on Child Contact
New Guidance on Compliance with Court Orders amid COVID-19 Outbreak
On Friday 27 March 2020, The Lord President issued further guidance on Court Orders relating to Parental Responsibilities and Rights in light of the current coronavirus crisis.
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Covid-19 and Family Law
We are all currently living in unprecedented times due to the onslaught of the Covid-19 disease. Individuals and families are requiring to isolate from elderly relatives, friends and work colleagues. All those familiar mutual networks of support that we have taken for granted are now dramatically curtailed.
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Other Important Dates – Who Gets the Kids for Special Occasions?
Every family has its own traditions. Whether they involve afternoon tea with Mum on Mother’s Day, watching football with Dad on Father’s Day, egg rolling at Easter, or something more unique, what is certain is that these traditions are central to family life.
Courts prepared to take a robust stance in child contact cases
A recent courageous decision from the English Court of Appeal indicated that courts nowadays can be prepared to take a robust stance in child contact cases when the parent with whom the children live refuses to obey Contact Orders.
[Read more…] about Courts prepared to take a robust stance in child contact cases
Separating families: maintaining contact with the kids
We discusses the importance of fathers having involvement in their children’s lives and how to maintain this when families separate.
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“…. but she still won’t let me see the children”
Unhappily, we sometimes come across parents who are at war over their children even to the extent that the parent with the residence of the children refuses to obey a court order to allow the other parent to see them. We have seen the Scottish courts take a strong stance in this regard.
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Child contact – what’s best for your child?
Separating parents and their contact arrangements with their children are important to consider. Should children have overnight contact with “absent” parents?
[Read more…] about Child contact – what’s best for your child?
