Christmas Child Arrangements – Tanya Bloomfield, head of Family Law, urges separated parents to plan ahead for the festive holidays.

Don’t wait until the school holidays are here to work out parenting arrangements. Now is the time to get those arrangements agreed and resolved so that you can look forward to a peaceful and enjoyable festive period.

As the schools go back after October half term and Christmas lights and decorations spring up in shops and homes across the region, worries about where children will spend the festive season are in the minds of many separated parents.

Even those with well-established routines can find it a struggle to work out which parent the child will spend time with on which days particularly when the school holidays change every year depending on how Christmas falls.

The stress can build up, leading to long-standing resentments between the parents resurfacing. It can lead to Christmas being anything other than a time of joy for many separated families.

We have a team of accredited family mediators who are often asked for help by separated parents who cannot agree between themselves what will work best for the children during the school break. We will work with you both to try and find a solution that meets your family needs.

We can help separated parents work out a plan that fits their unique family circumstances, and our advice is to get in touch soon. Don’t leave it until the last minute.

Making the arrangements in good time will give certainty to both parents, bringing you peace of mind. And it means the children know what is coming in the weeks ahead, giving them the best chance of having a happy Christmas break.

If Mediation is not appropriate we have a team of specialist solicitors based in our Darlington and Northallerton offices who can give you early legal advice on your options and assist in trying to get arrangements in place.

Anyone wanting to find out more about the benefits of family mediation offered by Family Mediation Solutions can visit www.familymediationsolutions.co.uk , or call 01325 289856.

If you are seeking legal advice you can visit us at www.clarkwillis.com or by calling us on 01325 281111.

We offer the mediation voucher scheme for children matters and if eligible you will be entitled to £500 towards your mediation from the government scheme.