Our Services

Children Care and Contact

Caring for children or having contact with children

If you are a parent, or have children in your family that you care for, or would like to care for or have contact with, then you may need to know what options are available to you.

Childcare disputes often arise when guardians disagree about the parenting arrangements following separation, or on important matters that affect the child.

Important matters that affect children may include:

where a child lives and goes to school,
what medical treatment they receive,
their culture and what language they speak,
or the religion that they practice.

There are a variety of ways in which childcare disputes can be resolved, whether that be by agreement, or applying to the Family Court for a Parenting or Guardianship Order.

Many people resolve childcare matters by agreement between themselves, or with the assistance of lawyers. The outcome would normally be a parenting agreement.

Sometimes outside assistance is needed to resolve a childcare dispute. One option may be attending Family Dispute Resolution. This is where a trained mediator, with a background in working with families, assists and guides guardians to work towards a resolution.

In some circumstances, the only available option may be applying to the Family Court for a Parenting or Guardianship Order. If a childcare dispute progresses through the Family Court and goes to a hearing, the Judge will make a Parenting or Guardianship Order that sets out the care or contact arrangements for the child.

When the Family Court considers a childcare dispute the most important factor will be what is in the welfare and best interests of the child. This means priority will be given to what is best for the child, rather that the child’s guardians. The Family Court may also appoint a lawyer for the child to ascertain the child’s views to help with decision-making.

We can assist you with resolving childcare and guardianship disputes whether they occur upon separation, or later.

Call us for a relaxed friendly chat on 04 4736 850 or email us at lawyers@raineycollins.co.nz

Shaun Cousins

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Gianna Menzies

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Jon Beck

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Gender Equality Charter - New Zealand Law Society

If you are a New Zealand Super Gold Card Holder (Australian Senior Cards do not qualify) we will give you a 75% discount of the fee for one of our set fee 1 hour initial consultations. We will also give you a 17.5% discount off the first matter we handle for you and then 12.5% off any subsequent matters for you. These discounts relate to your personal matters only (i.e. not business, trust or organisational matters or the sale and purchase of investment properties).

To receive the discount please let us know if you are a New Zealand Super Gold Card Holder.

Rainey Collins Lawyers is one of New Zealand's top law firms comprised of a wide range of experienced and skilled barristers and solicitors, making us experts in nearly all legal fields.

We provide litigation, legal representation and advice in fields such as employment law, buying and selling properties, setting up a family trust, commercial law, property law, Māori land, family law, relationship property, body corporates and construction. In addition to these legal services, we also provide highly efficient debt collection New Zealand wide for clients from large companies right through to small businesses and individuals.

Based in New Zealand's capital, our firm has a prime position in taking on cases not only from Wellington, but from all over Aotearoa, having helped a wide range of clients for over 100 years.

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