New service launched to help separating parents negotiate contact arrangements
When a relationship breaks down there are always important and difficult decisions to make. Former couples have to consider how to separate their finances, deal with joint assets and perhaps most importantly, how to navigate a smooth path for their children throughout the process.
Central to this, most of the time, is working out how the children are to maintain a meaningful and sustained relationship with both parents when they no longer with both of them full time.
Shared parenting after separating is not always an easy issue to agree on, especially if the relationship has ended in difficult and acrimonious circumstances. However, from our experience, the primary concern for clients is that their children remain as unaffected by changes to the family unit as possible.
ParentPlan aims to promote communication between separated parents and to help facilitate that communication.
The site enables carers of children to upload diaries, keep a calendar of upcoming events, post reminders and upload media files which can then be shared only with selected individuals. The aim of the site is to enable the parent who doesn’t live with the children and who consequently does not get to see their child as often as they want, to keep informed and included without the former partners having to directly communicate at all.
This is a welcome service after Cafcass announces that private law children applications to Court have increased over 10% in the last year.
Hopefully this service will be a helpful step in enabling former partners to ensure that the children and their happiness remains the focus and parents can avoid having to unnecessarily communicate at a time when emotions are running high.
Of course, if unfortunately a suitable arrangement cannot be agreed, any parent or person with parental responsibility may apply to court for an application for a child arrangements order or can attend mediation. If you feel that this action may be necessary one of our expert lawyers can advise you on 02392 492 967 (Havant / Portsmouth) or 02380 631111 (Southampton).
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