Child Law
✓ Experts in Child Law
✓ Quality legal representation throughout your divorce.
✓ We are a full-service law firm, able to seamlessly harness broader legal expertise where a matter demands other specialist skills.
Child Law Specialists
When your family life is changing, ensuring that your child’s well being is secure becomes the highest priority. At Farnworth Rose, our dedicated children law solicitors are here to guide you with clarity, compassion and strength at every step.
Whether you’re facing separation, dealing with care proceedings, or simply need clear advice on your parental rights, we bring over 38 years of trusted legal expertise to help you find the right path forward. As a firm of Child Law Solicitors in Lancashire proudly serving clients across England and Wales, we understand that every family is unique and so is every solution.
We provide practical advice grounded in the Children Act 1989 and other key legislation, while always keeping your child’s best interests at the heart of what we do. Our solicitors work with parents, grandparents, guardians, and other family members in a sensitive and supportive way to achieve safe, lasting outcomes for the children they love.
No matter how complicated or emotionally charged the situation may feel, you’ll never be just another case to us. You’ll have direct access to a specialist solicitor who will listen carefully, act decisively, and provide clear advice you can trust.
Why Choose Farnworth Rose for Children Law Matters?
Choosing Farnworth Rose means choosing a team who will treat your family’s challenges with the empathy and urgency they deserve. With decades of experience behind us, we are trusted by families across the UK to provide technically sound, emotionally intelligent legal support in all child law matters.
We know how emotionally difficult it can be when children are caught in the middle of legal disputes. That’s why we work quickly to define your goals and identify clear, practical ways forward, always guided by the child’s welfare, and always focused on achieving the best outcome for you and your family.
From the moment you get in touch, you’ll find us to be approachable, transparent, and entirely committed to supporting your case. You will have direct access to a dedicated solicitor who will guide you through every step of the process with compassion and clarity. We explain everything clearly as cases progress, keep our promises, and remain by your side from start to finish.
Our children law solicitors are skilled negotiators and experienced advocates, ready to represent you in or out of court, whether through collaborative discussions, mediation, or contested proceedings. If your case involves local authority intervention, safeguarding concerns, or urgent hearings, we will act swiftly and firmly to protect your rights and your child’s safety.
Above all, we are here to provide reassurance when you need it most, combining legal excellence with a personal service that truly puts you first.
Our Children Law Services
At Farnworth Rose, we understand that matters involving children often sit at the heart of wider family issues and they require a thoughtful, sensitive and legally robust approach. Whether you are seeking to agree on parenting arrangements, negotiating local authority involvement, or facing a dispute, our children law solicitors are here to support and guide you with care, clarity and resolve.
We act for parents, grandparents, stepparents, guardians and wider family members across all areas of child law, including:
+ Child Arrangement Orders
Disputes about where a child lives and how often they see each parent can be some of the most emotionally challenging aspects of separation. We help families reach safe, structured arrangements, either through negotiation or, where necessary, through a court order under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989. Whether you're applying for or responding to a Child Arrangement Order, we’ll work to achieve an outcome that promotes your child’s wellbeing and protects your rights.
+ Legal Advice for Grandparents
Grandparents can play a crucial and stabilising role in a child’s life. If that relationship is under threat due to family breakdown or bereavement, we can advise you on your legal options. While grandparents do not automatically have parental responsibility, it is possible to apply to the court for permission to seek contact or even residence. We’ll guide you through the process with understanding and respect.
+ Legal Advice for Stepfamilies
Blended families are increasingly common, but the legal rights of stepparents are not always clear-cut. Whether you're helping to raise a child or stepping into a more formal role, we can assist with Parental Responsibility Agreements, Child Arrangement Orders, or adoption where appropriate. We’ll help ensure your voice is heard, and your relationship with the child is legally recognised and protected.
+ Removing Parental Responsibility
In rare but serious circumstances, such as where a parent poses a risk due to violence, abuse or complete disengagement, it may be necessary to apply for the removal of parental responsibility. This is a delicate legal area, requiring strong evidence and careful handling. Our solicitors will approach your case with the sensitivity and determination it deserves, always focused on safeguarding your child’s welfare.
+ Special Guardianship Orders
A Special Guardianship Order (SGO) gives a non-parent legal responsibility for a child who can no longer live with their birth parents. SGOs offer more permanence than fostering but less than adoption, and are often used within families. We act for both proposed special guardians and parents responding to applications, guiding you through assessments, reports, and court proceedings with calm, clear advice.
+ FHDRA, DRA and Fact-Finding Hearings
When court proceedings are necessary, it’s vital to feel prepared and supported at every stage. We represent clients throughout the court process, including at key hearings such as the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA), Dispute Resolution Appointment (DRA), and Fact-Finding Hearings. These hearings determine what issues need resolving, what evidence is needed, and whether allegations must be explored. Our team ensures you’re well-informed, well-represented and never left feeling overwhelmed.
+ Spousal Maintenance
Although spousal maintenance is primarily a financial issue, it often arises alongside disputes about children, especially when finances are stretched after separation. We offer tailored advice on when spousal maintenance is appropriate, how long it should last, and how it interlinks with child maintenance or other family support arrangements. Our goal is to help secure your financial stability as you build a new chapter.
+ Spousal Maintenance
Although spousal maintenance is primarily a financial issue, it often arises alongside disputes about children, especially when finances are stretched after separation. We offer tailored advice on when spousal maintenance is appropriate, how long it should last, and how it interlinks with child maintenance or other family support arrangements. Our goal is to help secure your financial stability as you build a new chapter.
+ Paternity Disputes
Uncertainty about a child’s paternity can be distressing for everyone involved. Whether you’re seeking to confirm or challenge paternity, or defend your legal status as a parent, we provide sensitive and strategic advice. We can assist with DNA testing, applications for declarations of parentage, and any related issues concerning child arrangements, financial support or parental responsibility.
How Our Child Law Solicitors Can Help
At Farnworth Rose, we understand that when your child’s future feels uncertain, what you need most is someone in your corner who understands the law as well as the emotional weight that comes with these decisions. We offer more than just legal expertise, but real support, genuine empathy, and practical solutions that work for your family.
From the moment you speak to us, we take time to understand your individual circumstances and what a successful outcome looks like for you. We then provide clear, honest advice that helps you move forward with confidence. Whether you're trying to reach an agreement with your child’s other parent or preparing to attend court, our team will guide you step by step, always with your child’s wellbeing at the forefront.
We assist clients with everything from arranging safe and fair contact schedules to representing them at hearings involving child arrangements, parental disputes, or special guardianship applications. If your case involves the local authority or urgent safeguarding concerns, we act quickly and firmly to protect your child and ensure your rights are respected.
Throughout the process, you’ll have direct access to your solicitor. Someone who will respond promptly, keep you informed, and act decisively on your behalf. Our child law solicitors will handle the paperwork and support you through what may be one of the most difficult times in your life, always working to secure the best possible outcome for your family.
Contact Our Child Law Solicitors
Facing children law issues can feel overwhelming but with Farnworth Rose by your side, you won’t have to face it alone. Whether you’re dealing with a parenting dispute, concerned about your child’s safety, or simply need clarity on your rights and responsibilities, we’re here to guide you clearly and expertly.
Our children law solicitors in Lancashire will work tirelessly to ensure you reach your desired outcome. We are committed to providing exceptional levels of client care and will work closely, considerately and strategically with you to find the best solutions to the challenges you face. As a full-service law firm of Solicitors in Burnley & Nelson, we have the ability to seamlessly integrate additional legal service expertise where necessary.
With over three decades of trusted experience and a team known for both legal excellence and emotional intelligence, Farnworth Rose is proud to be one of the leading family law solicitors in Lancashire and in the North West. We regularly support clients with children law matters across Preston, Manchester, Blackburn, Rochdale and Bolton, as well as further afield in Bradford, Huddersfield, Skipton, Keighley and beyond. We offer clear, upfront pricing from the outset, with no hidden costs or surprises.
To speak with one of our children law specialists, call us today on 01282 695400 or complete the form below and we’ll be in touch to help you take the next step with confidence.
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