Is it possible to prevent someone seeing a child?

It is often said it takes a village to raise a child. However, life can be complex.

It is often considered ideal for a child to have both of their parents in their life. Sometimes relationships break down and you may no longer feel like you trust the other people in your child’s life.

When deciding on arrangements for your child, it is important to consider whether those arrangements are in the child’s best interests.

Both parents should have a relationship with their children unless there is a genuine and justifiable reason for them not to. Most parents have parental responsibility and therefore any decisions made for a child should be considered with the other parent with parental responsibility if possible.

What is a normal child arrangements routine?

What is suitable for one child may not be suitable for another child.

There are lots of different child arrangement patterns that can occur. Some children spend time equally with both parents, some children live with one parent and spend time with the non-resident parent. In some less common situations, a child may not see their non-resident parent at all, even if that parent wants to see them.

How do I know whether I should stop someone seeing a child?

A child should have contact with both parents if it is safe to do so. You need to consider carefully why you say that a child should not see the other parent and think hard about the reasons why you are considering stopping contact.

If you stop contact and a court later believes you should not have done this, then it may be detrimental for your case long term.

Be careful not to put your own hurt above the needs of your child. An example of this may be where one parent has had an affair but is otherwise a good parent to the child.

Where a parent is not paying child support for the child, this would not be a good reason to stop contact. You can attempt to remedy this by seeking child maintenance instead.

Reasons for stopping a child seeing a parent could be:

• Domestic abuse
• Drug use
• Alcohol abuse
• Criminal activity
• Behaviours that put the child at risk
• Emotional or psychological harm

Can you ensure your child still has a relationship with their parent safely?

Where a child has had a relationship with the other parent, and contact is stopped all of a sudden, this can in some certain circumstances lead to confusion and upset to the child.

Each circumstance is different, but consider carefully whether contact could continue, subject to certain safeguarding being put in place. Things that you could consider are:

• Mediation or solicitors to form a plan
• Obtaining an injunction
• A prohibited steps order
• Contact centres
• Supervised/supported contact
• Telephone/FaceTime contact
• Emails/letters/cards/presents
• The family or parents engaging in services such as counselling, rehabilitation, medical support, etc.

What to do if you want to stop contact or if the other parent is stopping contact

If either parent stops contact, or if you are the one whose contact has been stopped, you should seek independent legal advice immediately. Solicitors will consider and tailor an advice plan to your circumstances and consider all the options with you depending on the facts of your case. This includes a wide range of action, from negotiation to mediation or even court proceedings.