Diverse children enjoying playing with toys

Children Law Solicitors in Manchester & Cheshire

Nothing matters more than your children’s safety and happiness. When that feels at risk, you need a children law solicitor in your corner.

  • Specialist children law solicitors who put your children first
  • Clear, calm advice from your very first conversation
  • We’ll always try to resolve things without court – but represent you robustly if needed
  • One named solicitor throughout, with their direct mobile number
  • Employee-owned · Established 2015 · Manchester & Cheshire

Get in touch


Book your consultation · Prefer to talk first? Call 0345 222 8222, or click the link below.

If you’re separating, you’re probably lying awake wondering:

  • Will I lose time with my children?
  • How will all this affect them?
  • What if my ex won’t agree to fair arrangements?
  • How do I protect them from the conflict?

These fears are completely understandable. Our children law solicitors help parents across Manchester and Cheshire sort out arrangements for their children while keeping the children’s wellbeing at the centre of everything.

Here’s how we help:

  • We create parenting plans that work for your family’s particular situation
  • We negotiate with your ex wherever possible, so your children are spared the stress of court
  • We represent you firmly in court if agreement isn’t possible
  • We can point you towards the right support for your children if they’re struggling

Your children’s best interests guide every piece of advice we give.

How children arrangements get resolved

Going to court is the last resort, not the first step, and most families never need to. Here’s the usual path:

  • Your first conversation: we listen and help you understand your options.
  • Reaching agreement: wherever possible, we help you agree a parenting plan directly or through mediation, so things stay calm for your children.
  • If agreement isn’t possible: we can apply to the court for a child arrangements order. You’ll usually attend a first hearing, and CAFCASS may be asked to help the court understand what’s best for your children.
  • A final decision: the court makes an order based on one thing above all: your children’s welfare.

Timescales vary a great deal depending on your situation. Resolving things by agreement can take weeks; a contested court case can take several months or longer. We’ll give you a realistic picture for your circumstances from the outset.

Not sure where to start?

Often parents who contact us are anxious and have never dealt with a solicitor before. Starting is simpler than you’d think:

  1. 1

    Get in touch — call or request a callback and tell us what’s worrying you.

  2. 2

    Talk it through — we’ll arrange a consultation to understand your situation and explain your options clearly.

  3. 3

    Decide your next step — no pressure. You’ll leave knowing where you stand and what we’d recommend.

You can do all of this by phone or video if that’s easier than coming in.

Children-first approach

Every decision we help you make starts with what’s best for your children.

We keep things calm

We resolve as much as possible by agreement, sparing your children the stress of court.

Employee-owned

Everyone you deal with has a personal stake in getting the right outcome for your family.

Big-firm expertise, local care

Senior children law experience, delivered with the access of a local practice.

Transparent pricing

We publish our fees online, so you’ll always know where you stand.

Do I Need a Children Law Solicitor?

At Evolve Family Law we hope that you don’t need a children law solicitor if your relationship breaks down as in an ideal world you will be able to agree the custody and contact arrangements for your children without children lawyers or the court getting involved.

However, we don’t live in an ideal world and our children law solicitors are here to help, whether it is with guidance on reaching an agreement over the child care or shared care arrangements for your children, negotiating contact changes with the introduction of a new partner or a move out of the Cheshire or Greater Manchester area.

Sometimes parents have no option and have to apply to court for a child arrangements order or an order to protect their child, such as a specific issue or a prohibited steps order. For example, where you’re worried about child abduction, where co-parenting has become high-conflict, or where you’re concerned about the impact of domestic abuse on your children.

All children court proceedings are ‘’high stakes’’ as the outcome means so much to each parent. Where Evolve Family Law can do so, we will help you reach a resolution and draw up a parenting plan without the need for a court application or child arrangements order. If you are attending family mediation to resolve parenting issues then our children law solicitors can guide and provide mediation support through the mediation process.

With many years city centre expertise in all aspects of children law, our solicitors can help with children law cases with international aspects, from applying for permission to take your children abroad on holiday, to relocating overseas and needing a court order to do so, objecting to a child moving abroad, orders to prevent child abduction or assistance with an inter-country adoption or international surrogacy arrangements.

Although parenting arrangements after a separation or divorce should be kept separate from resolving the financial consequences of a relationship breakdown our family law solicitors can help you understand the complexities of child support and help you secure children financial orders , such as a payment of school fee orders , top-up child support orders and housing provision for children.

Evolve Family Law aren’t just here for parents who need to resolve custody and contact after a separation or divorce. Our children lawyers recognise that many grandparents may need advice and help in getting to see their grandchildren.

If we had to answer the question ‘’why Evolve Family Law to help resolve for your children law issue?’’ then we would say it’s a combination of our expertise and focus on giving you the pragmatic advice that you can trust and the support that you need to help you and your family find a resolution, whether that is by negotiation, mediation support or robust representation in children law court proceedings.

Children law services we can help with:

The people who’ll look after you and your family

You’ll work with one named children law solicitor from start to finish — someone who knows your family’s story, not a revolving door of staff. You’ll have their direct mobile number too, so when something urgent comes up with your children, you reach the person handling your case — not a receptionist or a callback queue. Meet the team who’ll be by your side.

  • Robin Charrot

    Robin Charrot

    Solicitor & Founding Director

  • Louise Halford

    Louise Halford

    Solicitor & Founding Director

  • Debra Lowy

    Debra Lowy

    Managing Senior Solicitor

  • Andrew Lee

    Andrew Lee

    Solicitor

  • Rachael Wood

    Rachael Wood

    Solicitor

  • Eluned Roberts

    Eluned Roberts

    Solicitor

  • Amber Oakley

    Amber Oakley

    Solicitor

  • Lauren Riley

    Lauren Riley

    Solicitor

  • Georgina Hill-Jones

    Georgina Hill-Jones

    Solicitor

  • Caitlin Cavanagh

    Caitlin Cavanagh

    Paralegal

FAQs

Not anymore. The courts now make child arrangements orders, which set out who a child lives with and spends time with — the word “custody” is still widely used, but it’s no longer the legal term.

Usually not. Most families reach agreement directly or through mediation. Court is a last resort, and we’ll always try to resolve things without it where we can.

Not without good reason. If you can’t agree contact, we can help you apply for a child arrangements order so the court can decide what’s fair.

Your children’s welfare comes first — above everything else. The court looks at their needs, safety, wishes (depending on age), and the effect of any change on them.

Yes. Grandparents usually need the court’s permission to apply, and we can guide you through grandparents’ rights.

Act quickly. We can apply urgently for a court order to prevent removal from the UK — see child abduction.

We publish our fees online so you can see what’s involved before you commit, no hidden extras.

Yes, you can deal with us by phone or video, or come into our Manchester or Cheshire offices.

Talk to us when you’re ready

You don’t need to have everything worked out before you get in touch. Most parents who call us are anxious and unsure where to begin — that’s exactly what we’re here for. One conversation with a specialist children law solicitor can replace a lot of worry with a clear sense of what happens next.

There’s no pressure and no obligation. We’ll listen, explain your options in plain English, and help you find the calmest way forward for your children.

Book your consultation and take the first step. Prefer to talk first? Call 0345 222 8222.