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How to make arrangements for your children if you divorce or separate, mediation and how to apply for a court order if you cannot agree.
You can choose how to make arrangements for looking after your children if…
You do not have to do any official paperwork if you agree about child…
A mediator can help you and your ex-partner agree on child arrangements,…
If you’ve got help and still cannot agree then you’ll need to apply for a…
You can apply online or using a paper form for any of the following: child…
The court will arrange a ‘directions hearing’ with both parents if you…
You can change an existing court order or consent order. You can also ask…
How to set up or manage a child maintenance arrangement, including what to do if a parent does not pay, how to contact the Child Maintenance Service, and signing in to your account.
Child maintenance covers how your child’s living costs will be paid when…
Your child needs to be under 16 - or under 20 if they are in full-time…
You can either arrange child maintenance: privately between parents, if…
If you use the Child Maintenance Service, they will work out your child…
Sign in to your Child Maintenance Service account to: report a change in…
If you or the other parent in your child maintenance case denies that…
There are some changes you must tell the Child Maintenance Service about…
Sign in to your online account If you already have a Child Maintenance…
Make a complaint Follow the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)…
You can make a private arrangement with your child’s other parent about…
The adoption process - eligibility, assessment, adoption agencies, adoption court orders, overseas adoptions and the rights of birth parents.
To be adopted, a child must: be under the age of 18 when the adoption…
To adopt a child you can go through either: an adoption agency that’s part…
Once the agency gets your application it will do the following: Invite you…
To make an adoption legal, you need to apply for an adoption court order.…
You need to tell your local council if you want to adopt your spouse’s or…
You can adopt a child from overseas if: they cannot be cared for in a safe…
For another couple (or person) to adopt your child, you normally have to…
Support and benefits you can get if you're looking after someone else's child, court orders - kinship care, private fostering, friends and family care
Statistics about separated families and the child maintenance system.
Apply for a 'child arrangements', 'prohibited steps' or 'specific issue' order under the Children Act 1989. You might be able to apply online.
An overview of Ofsted's registration process for adoption agencies, fostering agencies, children’s homes, residential family centres and residential holiday schemes for disabled children.
Guide for parents and legal guardians about applications to Homes for Ukraine for children who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian.
Requirements you must meet if you are an Ofsted-registered out of school club, nursery or other type of daycare on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.
Who has parental responsibility for looking after children, and how to apply for parental responsibility if you were unmarried to the mother or are not on the birth certificate
Why children are sent to custody, what it's like, visiting, advice and support
Use this guide to help you think about the items you would like to include in your child maintenance arrangement.
Guidance for sponsors about applications to Homes for Ukraine for children who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian.
Apply for an order related to the enforcement of a child arrangements order or to set aside or change an existing enforcement order.
Find out how to apply to become a child's special guardian.
Requirements you must meet if you are a childminder and registered with Ofsted on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.
Guidance for councils about applications to Homes for Ukraine for children who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian.
What happens when a child is taken into care - who is responsible for what, care proceedings, care orders, going to court and the role of Cafcass
Use this calculator to work out an amount of child maintenance for your children.
Use this guide to help you write down your child maintenance arrangement with your child's other parent.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
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