We are an established law firm offering a full range of company and personal legal services.
We pride ourselves in providing quality advice for businesses, families and individuals.
Hunt & Coombs have extensive experience of providing services to a large range of sectors.
We help many different businesses, not-for-profit organisations, business owners and charity trustees to advise on various legal issues.
At Hunt & Coombs, we have specialist lawyers with the technical ability and experience to provide advice and representation in complex areas of law.
We are the ideal place for you to come whenever you need legal advice or practical support.
Being separated from your child can be heart-wrenching, and yet some parents have to overcome some significant hurdles to be able to spend time with their children in a way that many families take for granted.
Direct contact is the ultimate goal, and in this article we will focus on the different types of direct contact, and what steps can be taken to finalise any agreement or seek a way forward if agreement cannot be reached.
This follows on from our articles which looked at the welfare considerations when thinking how to meet your child’s needs in agreeing contact arrangements, and the reasons why indirect contact may occur and the different forms it can take.
Direct contact means any contact a parent has with a child that is face to face. It can be in many different formats and can include restrictions if necessary to meet the child’s welfare needs.
Before we consider the different types of direct contact arrangements, we will take a quick look at the reasons to have direct contact.
Direct contact is often what parents prefer to have with their children, and is normally what will be in the best interests of a child. It is the basis of a natural relationship where a parent and child see each other face to face and spend time together. If the contact is of a good quality, it allows attachment to build between a child and parent and will promote the child’s wellbeing.
The quality of contact is not about what activities are undertaken, but more about the bond and connection between the parent and child. For example, if there is a young toddler, a higher quality contact may involve the parent engaging with the child by interacting at their level and getting onto the floor to play games. A lower quality contact may involve the parent being present in the same room as a child, but not engaging with a child for example by being on their phone.
If the time together is not high quality, it is still likely to be beneficial to a child provided there are no safeguarding concerns that would place the child at risk.
The different types of direct contact provide different levels of safeguarding for the child:
If there are particular concerns, restrictions can be put in place – such as restricting the venue direct contact can occur in, or restricting other people who can be present.
If you need advice on direct contact arrangements for your children please contact Hannah Byatt in the family law team on 01480 702207 or email [email protected].
Hannah Byatt BA, Partner
Partner - Team Leader Family
Hunt & Coombs LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership registered in England and Wales, Registration no. OC320243, VAT no. 120013160. Hunt & Coombs LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with Registration no. 443035. A list of members is available at 35 Thorpe Road, Peterborough PE3 6AG.
© Hunt & Coombs Solicitors 2023.