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For many people, the hardest part of a divorce is not the legal process, as daunting as that can be. It is deciding whether their relationship is truly and finally over. Real life is very rarely like film or TV show; when relationships end, they don't often do so in a dramatic moment of certainty. More often, people find themselves living with doubt, nagging unhappiness and sleepless nights for years. They may still love their partner, but feel lonely within the relationship.

A Section 7 report is a written assessment prepared for the family court to help decide what’s best for a child when parents can’t agree. It’s usually carried out by a Cafcass Officer (Cafcass is the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service). The report gets its name from Section 7 of the Children Act 1989, which allows the court to request a professional evaluation of your child’s needs and the family situation. A court might order a Section 7 report when: ·

If you and your ex are having difficulty reaching an agreement about a specific matter affecting your child, you can try to reach a resolution in various ways. For example, mediation (see my previous blog for more information), joint counselling, or speaking to a lawyer can help. If things reach a stalemate, the family court can intervene by making a Specific Issue Order (SIO) under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989. Commons reasons to apply for an SIO include: Education: D

The term parental responsibility is used a lot in family court. Parental responsibility is the legal term for the rights, duties, powers and responsibilities a parent has for their child. All birth mothers automatically have parental responsibility, as do fathers married to the mother at the time of birth or named on the birth certificate. It can also be granted to others—like step-parents or guardians—by agreement or through the courts. Having parental responsibility gives