Child Law

Disputes involving children cover more than just arrangements for where a child should live and when they should see the other parent.

Ashley is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a child law specialist and family law specialist. We are instructed routinely to resolve a wide range of disputes about children such as the relocation of children within and out with the UK, and where a child attends school.  Each of these matters involves the exercise of parental rights and responsibilities provided for in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Unless parental rights have been removed by the court all mothers, fathers who have been married to their child’s mother and unmarried fathers named on their child’s birth certificate after 4^th May 2006, have automatic parental rights and responsibilities.  We can provide specific advice to you on the exercise of these rights.  If you are a parent without automatic parental rights or have a child in your care for whom you require these rights, we can assist.

Child maintenance is not always a straightforward calculation.  The non-resident parents’ circumstances should be closely examined before an assessment for maintenance is made to make sure that the payment is correct.  Our team are knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with the child support regulations as well as regularly conducting child maintenance tribunals.

No two child related cases are the same and they are often complex.  We can advise you on how best to resolve your case using Collaborative Family Law, mediation, more traditional negotiation or, if necessary Court.