What is a Contact Order and how does it work?

Contact Orders protect a parents rights to access to their children. We used to refer to "access" and many people still use this terms when discussing contact with their children. This is the right to maintain a relationship with your children.  Again, this is something most couples sort out themselves but if an agreement can’t be reached, then the court can make what’s called a Contact Order to determine exactly when visits between a parent and their children should take place and where.  A Contact Order can also include conditions about collection and return and the involvement of third parties.  There is no such thing in Scotland as a minimal entitlement contact.  Each case and each contact order is dealt with of its own merits.

 It’s important to remember that there is no link in Scots Law between the obligation to pay child support and the entitlement to maintain a relationship with your children.  This is often something that’s hard for parents to swallow but this means, for example, that many parents who are not paying child support still see their children – and many parents who are, and stress are, paying child support are not seeing their children.  There is no connection between the two.

 If you need advice about a contact order or if issues have arisen regarding contact and access to your children you should not delay in getting further legal advice and in taking action to ensure that your children do not suffer from your absence. Contact us now for more information.