Children

When the parties to the marriage separate children need to be given reassurance that both parents still love them and to be sheltered from their parents conflict and not used as intermediaries. However, genuine problems frequently arise regarding who the children should live with (residence) and the arrangements for them to see the parent who does not have day to day care (contact). An unmarried father does not have automatic parental rights and responsibilities and may wish to enter into a formal agreement with the mother regarding these or apply to be granted them by the Court.