In this episode, Emma Gordon sits down with Fiona Greener to talk about common child maintenance questions after separation.

The episode unpacks how both parents are financially responsible for their children, with maintenance calculated using a statutory income-based formula, with various adjustments for shared care.

Emma and Fiona’s conversation confirms that maintenance must still be paid even if a parent does not see the child, and that shared care might reduce payments but doesn’t usually remove liability.

They also highlight the importance of keeping CMS informed of changes and acting quickly if a calculation is wrong, to avoid arrears or enforcement action.

For more advice on child maintenance, you can contact Emma and Fiona at https://www.harbourfamilylaw.co.uk/

In this episode, Ros White and Hannah Holdaway explain how child arrangements are decided when parents separate.

Child arrangements orders set out where a child lives and how time is shared, but there is no set template. As Ros and Hannah explain, each case is decided individually, with the child’s welfare as the main priority. Many families reach agreement without court, often with legal advice or mediation, using tools like parenting plans or CAFCASS resources

The episode also covers common arrangements, including children living with one parent and spending time with the other, where the focus is on quality of time and stability rather than strict equality.

Finally, they discuss practical issues like distance between homes and schools, and encourage early advice to help find workable solutions.

If you’re contemplating child arrangements visit https://www.harbourfamilylaw.co.uk/

Nicky Howarth and Fiona Greener discuss the potentially tricky issues around children’s passports and international travel after separation.

Both parents with parental responsibility usually need to consent to a child’s passport application so when agreement can’t be reached, parents should try to resolve matters together. In cases where this doesn’t happen, the court can decide and will generally support travel in the child’s best interests unless there are safeguarding concerns.

Nicky and Fiona explain that a parent with a “lives with” order can usually take a child abroad for up to 28 days, but that communication with the other parent is still advised.

Finally, episode offers some practical tips for travel, including avoiding issues at border control when surnames differ, and cautions against wrongly reporting a passport as lost or stolen during disputes.

To find out more or speak to a specialist, visit https://www.harbourfamilylaw.co.uk/