New rules on child contact to be implemented

The 8th December will see the implementation of new powers to resolve contact disputes under the Children and Adoption Act 2006.

Under the new provisions of the Act, the court will be given power to direct a parent to undertake a ‘contact activity’, such as taking part in programmes, classes, counselling or guidance sessions, with the aim of “establishing, maintaining or improving contact with a child.” In addition, the court will be given power to add contact activity ‘conditions’ to contact orders.

The new rules will allow courts to ask a CAFCASS officer or a Welsh family proceedings officer to monitor whether an individual is complying with the contact order and report back to the Court.

Upon application, the court will be able to impose an unpaid work requirement or ‘enforcement order’ on a person if they breach the contact order. And finally, Courts will be allowed to award financial compensation from one person to another for losses occurring as a result of failure to comply with the contact order.
If you’d like more information about any aspect of Child Contact, please call Alistair Dobson on 01858 445 480.