Describe the child's current life before proposing changes
A child arrangements enquiry should begin with the child's routine, relationships and practical needs. Yudey can organise preparation for a family law assessment in England and Wales by recording where care takes place, how handovers work and what is causing difficulty. We ask about school, health needs and existing arrangements without collecting unnecessary identifying information in the initial message. The purpose is a useful factual account rather than a case against the other parent.
Official guidance explains routes for making child arrangements after separation. [1] The appropriate next step requires professional assessment of the circumstances, including any safety concerns. This page does not decide the arrangement a court would make or promise a particular division of time. Other jurisdictions and international issues require a separately assessed scope.
Preserve the existing agreements and orders
The preparation can organise current orders, written plans and relevant correspondence into a dated record. It should distinguish a court order from an informal understanding and show whether a later change was agreed or disputed. A calendar used by one parent may not establish what both people accepted. The professional needs the actual documents and context before advising on their effect.
If a hearing or response date already exists, provide the full notice promptly through the agreed channel. We can identify the current stage and outstanding evidence tasks, but do not extend deadlines or assume responsibility for proceedings through an enquiry. The responsible professional must confirm acceptance, authority and the exact work required before you rely on representation.
Identify practical problems clearly
The concerns register can separate transport difficulties, inconsistent communication, school decisions and missed arrangements. Each item should explain what happened, when and how it affected the child. A concise factual chronology is usually more useful for assessment than an unstructured collection of accusations. We do not edit messages to change their meaning or remove context from evidence provided to the professional.
Proposed solutions can be recorded alongside the concerns, with assumptions visible. The coordinator does not recommend a fixed schedule for every family or treat equal time as an automatic legal outcome. The professional should consider the child's circumstances and relevant law. Financial disputes between adults should not be used as bargaining conditions for the child's arrangements.
Give safeguarding concerns an appropriate route
If there are concerns about abuse, threats or a child's immediate safety, raise them through a safe channel and seek suitable urgent help where needed. A routine preparation exercise is not an emergency response service. The enquiry should not require direct contact, mediation or shared planning where those steps may be unsafe. The appropriate professional must assess the circumstances and any available protections.
Children should not be asked by the coordinator to choose sides, carry messages or produce evidence for the adults. Their views and needs require appropriate handling by the relevant professionals. We can organise information already available without conducting an informal child assessment. Medical, school and other sensitive records should be shared proportionately and with the appropriate authority.
Agree the professional work and communication plan
The written scope should distinguish document organisation, legal advice, correspondence and any court work. Reserved legal activities require an appropriately authorised provider. This page does not establish Yudey's solicitor status or include representation automatically. The parent should understand who advises them, what the engagement covers and how information is shared with other people involved.
The output can include a routine summary, chronology, document index and questions for the accepted assessment. Negotiation, revised plans and later proceedings are included only where specified. Any contact with the other parent or their representative needs clear instructions. The preparation record should preserve unresolved issues rather than present a proposed arrangement as already agreed or legally effective.
Request support with a concise factual outline
Start with the child's age, current arrangements and the principal difficulty. Mention existing orders, important dates and safe contact needs without attaching extensive private records. The next stage is to agree the appropriate professional assessment and document exchange. Urgent concerns must be identified immediately so availability and a suitable response can be considered.
Fees depend on the record volume, issues and accepted professional work. The quotation states pounds sterling charges, applicable VAT and separate court or specialist costs. The timetable depends on the circumstances and external processes. The aim is a child-focused factual handover and a clear next step, without promising a custody result or treating administrative preparation as a decision about the child's future.
Official information behind this service
Sources checked on 8 September 2026. Use the linked guidance for subsequent changes.