Child Contact and Child Access Rights

A parent has a right to see a child. More importantly, however, is the child’s right to see the parent. Where parents are unable to agree the time the child will spend with the other parent, the court may have to assist and look at a contact order. The welfare of the child is the paramount consideration.

A contact order can define the time the child will spend with the parent. It can also include holiday periods and such things as telephone, email, webcam and so on.

Care must be taken where there is an international element to the contact case to ensure, as far as possible, that the child is returned following a holiday visit. This can involve ensuring that the contact order is registered and recognised in the foreign court (sometimes called a ‘Mirror’ order).