Contact Issues in Private Children Law Cases - Family Time & Enforcement Guidance

Introduction

Practitioners in private children law proceedings will frequently be involved in discussion and disputes surrounding contact/family time.

What is the position with enforcement of child arrangements and the options available?

How would the issue of enforcement be relevant in cases of alienating behaviour cases?

What is the Family Justice Council Guidance on enforcement in cases where the child is reluctant, resistant or refusing to spend time with the other parent?

How does the position with contact vary when there are applications for child arrangements orders live with, as opposed to spend time with?

What must the court consider when considering special Guardianship orders and contact?

These and other and matters will be addressed in this webinar.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Direct and indirect contact - Does the distinction matter?
• Effective use of s.11(7) CA 1989 in children cases
• Developments in the area surrounding enforcement of child arrangements orders
• Warning notices, enforcement orders and financial compensation
• Special Guardianship Order and contact
• Planning together for Children Programmes
• Committal Applications - use of Part 37 FPR 2010
• Use of switch of ‘live with’ arrangements and when will s.37 CA 1989 be relevant?
• Use of Contact Apps and Family Assistance Orders
• Not contesting contact and whether a need for a fact-finding hearing? Consideration of GI v. K [2026]
• Use of s.91(14) and Child Arrangements - Consideration of Re A (Duration of s.91[14]) Order]
• Government proposals to repeal presumption of Parental Involvement in 2026
• Allegations of domestic abuse, contact and use of PD12J
• Running of fact-finding hearing and contact following Domestic Abuse Act
• Guidelines for judges meeting children
• Making ‘available’ for contact or ‘ensuring’ contact

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Thursday 3rd December 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,400+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.