Children in The Middle

Children in The Middle Expert direct access barristers - specialising in advising separated parents about their children

It’s not always the big decisions that feel the most difficult. Often, it’s everything around them. The in-between stage...
27/05/2026

It’s not always the big decisions that feel the most difficult.

Often, it’s everything around them.

The in-between stage where nothing is fully settled yet.
Where arrangements are still being worked through.
Where things don’t quite feel stable but also aren’t clear enough to change.

That’s where a lot of pressure tends to sit.

Not necessarily because anything has gone wrong - but because there’s a lack of clarity about what happens next.

And over time, that uncertainty can start to affect how things are handled day-to-day.

Sometimes, having a clearer understanding of the situation - even without immediate answers - can make that stage feel a little more manageable.

If things feel unclear or unsettled, getting advice early can help bring some clarity to what your options look like.

📧 [email protected]
📞 0117 214 1797
🌐 www.childreninthemiddle.co.uk

With summer coming up, many parents start thinking about holidays and time away. But where child arrangements are in pla...
19/05/2026

With summer coming up, many parents start thinking about holidays and time away.

But where child arrangements are in place, it’s important to think about a few key points early on.

If you’re planning to travel:

👉 Check whether there is a court order in place
👉 Make sure you have the other parent’s agreement where required
👉 Confirm whether you need written consent, particularly for travel abroad
👉 Allow enough time to resolve any issues before plans are finalised

Even where arrangements are working well, holidays can sometimes create uncertainty if expectations aren’t clear.

Taking a bit of time to plan ahead can help avoid last-minute stress and ensure everything runs smoothly.

If you’re unsure what’s required, or need clarity before making plans, getting advice early can help you avoid complications.

📧 [email protected]
📞 0117 214 1797
🌐 www.childreninthemiddle.co.uk

There are a lot of assumptions about what happens in family court. But the reality is often more complex than people exp...
14/05/2026

There are a lot of assumptions about what happens in family court.

But the reality is often more complex than people expect.

Understanding this early can make a big difference - both in how you approach the process, and how you manage expectations along the way.

📧 [email protected]
📲 0117 214 1797

Deciding whether to stop or limit a child’s contact with the other parent is never easy. But when there are serious safe...
05/05/2026

Deciding whether to stop or limit a child’s contact with the other parent is never easy.

But when there are serious safeguarding concerns, a child’s safety must always come first.

This is not a decision to take lightly - and it’s important to understand when it may be appropriate, and how to approach it properly.

Acting without clear justification can have serious consequences later on.

We’ve explained more about this in our latest blog 👇

https://childreninthemiddle.co.uk/when-is-it-appropriate-to-stop-or-limit-contact-due-to-safeguarding-concerns

28/04/2026

Children often notice more than we realise.

Not just what’s said - but how things feel.

And sometimes, it’s the smallest moments that stay with them.

👉 If things feel uncertain or difficult, getting clear advice can help you understand your options and create more stability.

📧 [email protected]
📞 0117 214 1797

It’s often just a few minutes. 👉 A quick exchange.👉 A drop-off.👉 A pick-up. But handovers can quietly shape how everythi...
20/04/2026

It’s often just a few minutes.

👉 A quick exchange.
👉 A drop-off.
👉 A pick-up.

But handovers can quietly shape how everything else feels.

😬 Tense conversations.
😳 Awkward silences.
👧 Children picking up on things that aren’t being said.

Even when everything else is working, difficult handovers can make arrangements feel much harder than they need to be.

And the opposite is true too.

A calm, simple handover can make things feel more manageable for everyone - especially for children.

Sometimes it’s not the arrangement itself that needs to change.

It’s the moments around it.

👉 If parts of your arrangements feel more difficult than they should, getting clear advice can help you work out what’s really causing the pressure.

📧 [email protected]
📞 0117 214 1797

“𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝟓𝟎/𝟓𝟎.” This is something we hear often when parents are trying to agree child arrangements. And...
14/04/2026

“𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝟓𝟎/𝟓𝟎.”

This is something we hear often when parents are trying to agree child arrangements.

And it’s completely understandable.

Fairness feels important - especially when emotions are high and both parents want to feel equally involved.

But when it comes to children, “fair” doesn’t always mean equal.

What matters most is whether arrangements work for the child.

That might mean:

✅ fitting around school, routines and friendships
✅ considering emotional needs at different ages
✅ reducing unnecessary transitions between homes

For some families, that may look like a 50/50 split.

For others, it won’t.

And that’s not about one parent “losing out” - it’s about making decisions that support the child’s wellbeing.

Sometimes, shifting the question from

“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬?”

to

“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦?”

can change everything.

👉 If you’re unsure whether your current arrangements are still working, getting clear advice can really help you understand your options.

📧 [email protected]
📞 0117 214 1797

Child arrangements aren’t meant to stay the same forever. What works for a young child often doesn’t work in the same wa...
07/04/2026

Child arrangements aren’t meant to stay the same forever.

What works for a young child often doesn’t work in the same way as they grow older.

As children get older, their lives become fuller - with school, friendships, activities and their own preferences becoming clearer.

Their emotional needs change too.
Sometimes arrangements just need a small tweak.
Sometimes they need a bigger rethink.

The important thing is making sure they still work for your child now - not how things used to be.

We’ve shared more about this in our latest blog 👇

🔗 https://childreninthemiddle.co.uk/why-child-arrangements-need-to-change-as-children-get-older

You may have heard of Pathfinder Courts - a newer approach to family court cases involving children. They’ve now been re...
31/03/2026

You may have heard of Pathfinder Courts - a newer approach to family court cases involving children.

They’ve now been renamed Child Focused Courts and are being rolled out more widely across England and Wales.

The aim is simple:

👉 Reduce delays
👉 Identify risks to children earlier
👉 Focus more clearly on a child’s wellbeing from the start

For many families, court can feel long, stressful, and uncertain - especially where children are involved.

Changes like this are designed to make the process clearer, safer, and more focused on what really matters.

We’ve explained how this works (and what it could mean for families) in our blog 👇

https://childreninthemiddle.co.uk/what-is-a-pathfinder-court

Have you experienced the family court process? We’d be interested to hear your thoughts.

When families are going through separation, things can feel uncertain very quickly. Questions come up around arrangement...
25/03/2026

When families are going through separation, things can feel uncertain very quickly.

Questions come up around arrangements, routines, and what happens next - and it’s not always clear where to turn for the right advice.

Legal guidance can help bring clarity.

Not to escalate things, but to help you understand your options, your position, and what steps you can take moving forward.

And when it comes to decisions about children, the focus is always the same - their wellbeing.

You don’t have to navigate it alone.

At Children in the Middle, we support families with clear, practical legal advice to help you move forward with confidence.

📩 Get in touch if you need support or aren’t sure where to start

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Bristol

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+441172141797

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