Separation is rarely just one conversation or one decision. For many parents, it becomes a long period of uncertainty, emotion, practical changes, and difficult communication. In the middle of that, it can be very easy for important details to become scattered across
The Child Impact Report: What Separating Parents Need to Know Family court proceedings have traditionally been seen as time-consuming and emotionally draining, with important concerns around safety not always addressed as early as they should have been. To address this, the Pathfinder
My son was seven when I separated from his dad. He’s eighteen now. Yesterday, we met for coffee and a catch-up. We haven’t caught up for a few weeks — he’s busy studying engineering at uni, working with kids in an after-school
Worried because your ex hasn’t returned the children after they have spent time/lived with them? Francesca Dooley, Trainee Legal Executive in the family team at Birketts LLP, explains your legal options, when to call the police, and how a family solicitor can
“This is a war. The farm animals are fighting the ocean animals.” says my 7 year old client as she creates an elaborate battle scene in the sand tray. “The cat is in the middle” she further explains as she gingerly places
Have you ever considered that your romantic relationship(s) affect more than just you and your partner? It’s also the foundation of your children’s future relationships. It all starts with you. No pressure. It wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I
When parents separate, the focus understandably turns to their children – how they’re coping, what arrangements will work, and how to protect them from unnecessary distress. But research – and increasingly, national guidance – points to one clear truth: it’s not separation
A Legacy of Quiet Rage When I was growing up, my mother spent years going in and out of family court with my antagonistic father. There were statements, court orders, applications, and a trial, but never once did anyone ask how it felt when my
I want to talk about this not as an adult who went through a divorce, but as a child who lived through her parents’ divorce. I share this perspective because I want parents to understand how vital it is to rediscover themselves
Between the day you decide to separate and the day you finally feel settled in your new co-parenting life, there is a mountain to climb. It can be daunting and you may not feel ready to take that first step but, when
I went to a social worker as a teenager for over two years. And yes, it helped. I could finally talk about the horrendous things that happened to me growing up. But the truth? We only scratched the surface. The deeper wounds
Mental health expert Noel McDermott examines what our children need through periods of transition; it’s first important to understand what we mean psychologically by a transition. A transition isn’t just a change of something, it is a change that requires an emotional
