No matter what age they are, if your child’s health is threatened by a serious or long-term condition -including birth defects – which affects their physical and mental health and abilities, then you are faced with a range of fears and uncertainties: Fears for your child’s future and for their long-term future care – particularly once you are no longer there; and uncertainties as to what you can do to …Read More
Separation and Divorce: What will happen to our kids?
On a human level, what happens to your children is the most emotive element of any break-up and most parents agree that children should always be the number one priority. Their benefit and welfare should come first before deciding any matter, but let’s take a look at what’s involved in this: …. 1. What are the main issues to be decided? From a legal perspective, the main issues to be …Read More
What walking the Camino revealed to me about Family Law
I am just back from completing my second walk of the Camino de Santiago de Compestela, and one thing which struck me strongly during this particular pilgrimage, was that family law situations across the world have so many similarities. During my walk I met and spoke with many wonderful people – from Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, France and Spain. Maybe the fact that I am a family …Read More
Single Parent Families – what they mean for children
More than 1 in every 4 children now lives in a single parent family although the factors behind this are diverse. The numbers of children living in families which are outside marriage has doubled over the past 25 years; divorce and separation have increased six fold since 1996; and we also need to remember those families where a parent is lost through bereavement. So where does this leave the children …Read More
Volunteers needed to walk Camino for new Dublin children’s centre
An East Coast children’s charity is issuing an urgent appeal for volunteers to walk the Camino in Spain, to raise funds for a new Dublin centre. The Guardian Project, which already has a centre in Arklow, Co Wicklow, helps children cope with divorce and bereavement. “We need to raise a minimum of €30,000 to support existing services and to open a new centre in South Dublin,” says charity founder and …Read More
Domiciliary Care Allowance: another hurdle for families of our most vulnerable children.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is an allowance given to parents of a child with disabilities, to assist in their upbringing because of their additional needs. The main reason why most families get Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is because it can help them to obtain essential services, treatment or additional equipment for their disabled child. The allowance also has a respite element, in acknowledgement that bringing up a child with disabilities is …Read More
Child Contact Centres – a safe place for children to meet parents they do not live with
Although well-established in many other countries Child Contact Centres are relatively new to Ireland. As a result, many people know little about the vitally important role they can play for Irish children. What is a Child Contact Centre? A Child Contact centre has several roles and caters for children who don’t live with both their parents: It is a centre which provides a neutral and safe venue for the children …Read More
Supporting Children Through Separation & Divorce – Resources for you and your family
Separation and divorce are hard on every family member, so it can be a particularly challenging time for a parent who wants their child to have all the support they need. But help is out there…. There are many useful resources and services for children and for parents, which can provide essential support, guidance and advice at this time: The Guardian Childrens Project Provides support services including counseling and peer …Read More
Dealing with Loss
The Loch Garman Childcare Network is hosting a seminar for families and childcare professionals on Dealing with Loss through Separation or Bereavement, and I am delighted to act as a keynote speaker. I will be there with two hats, firstly as a family lawyer and secondly as founder and director of the ‘The Guardian Project’ in Arklow (which provides support services to young people who are experiencing parental separation and/or …Read More
The children’s rights referendum – time to place children at the top of the agenda.
I have worked in the area of Family & Child law for almost 20 years. Over that time, it has always been clear to me that most decisions made about children in the private family law area, are made without any recourse to their views or opinions, and without the assistance of a child specialist who could represent their views to a judge. By private family law, I mean normal …Read More