This month brings monumental changes in divorce law with the long-awaited introduction of No-Fault Divorce on April 6.

To mark the milestone, Jones Myers Founder, Peter Jones, has featured on BBC Radio Leeds to highlight what the changes mean for couples seeking a divorce.

Our Partner Nicki Mitchell, who heads our York office, has also been interviewed by BBC Radio York to explain the implications.

Here is a summary of how the developments will affect divorcing couples.

Under the previous laws, unless couples had lived apart for two orfive years, one partner had to apportion some form of blame for the marriage breakdown. This could be adultery, desertion, or unreasonable behaviour.

In our extensive experience, we have witnessed how dishing out blame can create conflict and make it difficult to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.

No-Fault Divorce removes the need for separating couples to prove fault or to live apart for at least two years before being granted a divorce. It also means a divorce application cannot be defended or contested.

The seismic change was triggered in part by the high-profile and acrimonious case of Tini Owens, a ‘desperately unhappy’ wife who took her case to the court of appeal after a family court ruling refused her a divorce petition. Her husband vehemently denied her claims of his unreasonable behaviour and wanted to remain married.

Had he not contested the divorce and her allegations, she would most likely have been granted a divorce. Instead, she was forced to live in the marital house for a further two years.

The new time scales under No-Fault Divorce require a period of a minimum of20 weeks between lodging an application with the court and applying for a Conditional Order.  

This gives couples time to carefully consider if they are making the right decision. If, after 20 weeks, they still want to go ahead, they need to inform the court and after a further 6 weeksapply for a Final Order.

No-Fault Divorce also enables couples to submit a joint application on mutual terms.

The absence of blame will make negotiations for the welfare and arrangements for children, whose interests should always come first, more collaborative.

It is also expected to make dividing assets easier because couples in this situation are more likely to be more open minded to discuss financial issues without the resentment that sometimes exists when blame is involved.

The financial issues arising from the separation will need to be negotiated and the agreed settlement approved by the court. If agreement is not possible, then a separate process will have to be started.

It is vital anyone issuing an application themselves ensures that areas such as pensions, insurance benefits and their potential tax implications are dealt with before applying for a Final Order.

We urge taking expert legal advice as it may be necessary to delay applying for a Final Order to protect the financial aspects.

For queries on No-Fault Divorce or any aspect of family law, call us at Leeds on 0113 246 0055, Harrogate on 01423 276104, or York on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

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Jones Myers founder, Peter Jones, has highlighted the significance of a far-reaching campaign calling for no fault divorce law and improved rights for cohabiting couples to thousands of listeners on BBC Radio Leeds.

Appearing on ‘Legal Monday’ with popular presenter Richard Stead, Peter outlined the aims of Lobby Day in which he is playing a key role to urge local MPs to change current legislation.

Taking place at the House of Commons on November 30, Lobby Day is part of Good Divorce Week, which promotes a constructive approach to divorce and runs from November 28 to December 2.

Hundreds of MPs across the country are being urged to support the campaign which has featured in the media and been organised by Resolution – a national family law group which promotes non-confrontational solutions in family law of which Peter is a former chair.

Explains Peter: “We’re seeking the introduction of no fault divorce. Currently, unless a couple has lived apart for two years, one partner must take the blame for the split. While this can cause friction and recriminations during what is usually an anxious time, no fault divorces would make it easier for people to make their separation more harmonious and avoid lengthy and stressful court disputes.

“We are also calling for the law to be changed to protect cohabiting couples who now make up ten per cent of the population and do not have the same automatic rights as married couples. We want a legal framework of rights and responsibilities to ensure fair outcomes should they separate or one of them die. I have been a vociferous campaigner on these two issues for many years.”

Lobby Day will also draw MPs attention to the plight of those impacted by swingeing cuts that have seen Legal Aid all but disappear in divorces – a situation which Resolution fears will be further exacerbated by wide-ranging court closures regionally and nationally.

Peter explained to Richard that while those who live near Leeds city centre might be unaffected by the changes, they would have a huge impact on residents in places such as Pateley Bridge and outlying areas.

During the programme Peter also took calls from listeners on succession planning and wills, advising that these should always be kept up to date for current wishes to be carried out.

For queries on contentious wills and probate, contact award-winning Martin Holdsworth, head of our contentious wills, trust & estates team which has recently expanded to become one of the largest niche departments outside London.

You can listen to Peter’s BBC Radio Leeds appearance here, at 01:36 until 20^th December.

Jones Myers highly experienced team of family lawyers can assist with the issues highlighted in the campaign along with all matters related to divorce and separation. You can contact the team on 0113 246 0055 or tweet us on @helpwithdivorce.

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Invited back just seven weeks since his last appearance on BBC Radio Leeds ‘Legal Monday’ programme with popular broadcaster Richard Stead, Norman Taylor, one of our family law specialists, debunked divorce myths around some commonly used phrases.

‘Irreconcilable differences’ was a terminology which listeners – and Richard Stead himself – were surprised to learn is not a legal term in Britain.

Although frequently used in the United States as a ground for divorce when ‘A couple cannot and never will agree on certain, fundamental issues’, it is not one of the 5 grounds for divorce in the UK which Norman explained were adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, two years apart, by agreement – and five years separation with no consent required.

Norman also explained that the widely used term common law wife or common law husband are not valid legal terms and do not give either party any legal rights or obligations should a couple separate.

Listeners called and texted questions on wide-ranging family law issues spanning tieing the knot abroad, the Child Maintenance Service, – and the rocketing rise in ‘sliver splitters’ –  older divorcees.

A listener sought advice on the validity of marriages in countries abroad. Norman advised that generally speaking, if the marriage is legally recognised in the country that it was entered into in, then it will also be recognised in the UK. He cautioned that there may be exceptions so it is worth double checking in advance the county in which you wish to tie the knot.

The programme also outlined that there may also be other considerations to take into account – for example, France requires couples to be a resident in the country for a month before celebrating a legal wedding ceremony.

Phone in queries also included a listener questioning her son’s options as a divorced father if he disagrees with a decision reached by the Child Maintenance Service (formally the Child Support Agency). Norman explained that the Child Maintenance Service operates an appeals procedure for those in this situation.

The issue of rising divorces among the over 60s was also discussed. Norman explained to listeners the key considerations including property, age, length of marriage, whether this is a second marriage – as well as changes to the pension reform – for those contemplating divorce to take on board. A Jones Myers article on the Saga website on this issue outlines why people in this situation should look before they leap and offers some salutary advice on staying together – or parting well.

You can listen back to the programme until 24^th May on BBC Radio Leeds if you missed it live.

If you have any comments, queries or concerns on any divorce related issue, leave a comment below, call the Jones Myers team on 0113 246 0055 or tweet us on @helpwithdivorce.

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Topics including how divorced couples can make Christmas special for children, DIY divorces and pre-nup agreements were among key issues that our family law specialist Norman Taylor advised on in a BBC Radio Leeds phone in.

Norman – a family lawyer with enormous experience involving financial issues arising from family and relationship breakdown and praised by Chambers as “very collaborative” and having “really good empathy with clients” – was invited onto the programme hosted by popular broadcaster and interviewer Richard Stead.

The session started with how estranged couples and grandparents and extended family members can best survive Christmas and make it magical for children. Reinforcing the Jones Myers ethos of always putting children first, Norman’s advice included how divorced couples can make Boxing Day another Christmas Day so children enjoy Christmas with both parents. For more tips on how to put children first this Christmas, visit our blog.

January ‘divorce D-Day’ – a day in the annual calendar when couples allegedly race to family lawyers for a divorce, also came up. With January 7 forecast as the day for 2016, Norman said the divorce rush is a myth in his experience – stressing how relationship breakdowns are not ‘seasonal’ and can happen any time. He also acknowledged how the festive season places additional financial strain on relationships with some families spending more money than they can afford.

With Christmas being a popular time for marriage proposals, the programme covered whether pre-nups can dampen romance, Norman explained how these agreements are no longer the preserve of the rich and famous – and how important they can be in situations such as couples marrying for the second time.

Norman also stressed that, although pre-nups are not currently legally binding in England and Wales (although the law may change), a carefully thought through and “fair” agreement, drawn up with independent advice, is quite likely to be upheld by a court.  We’ve also previously blogged on how pre-nups are also more likely to be accepted by a divorce judge if they were agreed well in advance of a marriage – and if there is no implication that one party was coerced into signing it.

On the topic of DIY divorce, Norman likened it to someone trying to mend their own broken leg without medical advice and advocated steering away from it and obtaining expert advice.

You can listen back to the programme on Radio Leeds if you missed it live. Our team at Jones Myers would like to take this opportunity to wish you, your family and friends a wonderful festive season and a very happy and harmonious 2016.

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A long awaited Law Commission announcement which is recommending a special status pre-nuptial agreement is unlikely to have any relevance whatsoever for most people earning average incomes.

I was invited onto Martin Kelner’s  BBC Radio Leeds show to discuss the proposed draft bill which, if implemented, would introduce legally recognised ‘qualifying nuptial agreements’ (QNAs) – which mean a couple can establish how finances can be shared should they split up. Under current law, pre-nups are not legally binding and can be overturned by the courts.

As I explained to Martin’s listeners, while I welcome the recommendations, I believe that the suggested changes would benefit primarily the very wealthy. The proposed changes are less relevant to the average person with limited finances and assets. Even if they draw up a ‘qualifying nuptial agreement’ spelling out how their property and/or finances should be shared if they divorce, the proposal is that courts could still overrule this agreement to the extent that it does not meet the financial needs of one party.

For people with considerable wealth there is no doubt that a QNA would give them more certainty about how the rest of their financial assets are split – and, as some media commentators have pointed out, could protect wealthy individuals against so called ‘gold diggers’.

The announcement may be a ‘vote catcher’ only for the very rich and the jury’s still out as to whether MPs will drive it onto the statute book during this Parliament.

In the meantime existing pre-nups are useful for couples of relatively modest means who want to help protect their assets should their marriage fail.  A well-drawn up agreement, backed up with sound legal advice and which takes into account both party’s future needs, will remain one of the factors to be considered in a divorce court when assessing what constitutes a fair settlement.

If you have any questions about the Law Commission’s proposals, or about pre-nups generally, please call us on 0113 246 0055, leave us a comment below or drop us an e-mail.

You can follow us on Twitter @helpwithdivorce

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Following the news that divorce among the 60s is rocketing while it falls for the rest of the population, fellow partner Fiona Kendall and I were invited onto BBC Radio Leeds to discuss the trend with presenter Nick Ahad.

In 1991 the Office for National Statistics reported 1.6 divorces per 1,000 married men over 60, while new figures released by the ONS showed this had risen to 2.3 by 2011 – the latest year for which figures are available.

As well as highlighting the possible reasons why people in their 60s are divorcing in their droves, we talked about the emotional and financial risks of walking away from a marriage after decades.  And when it comes to a late blossoming romance, I’d urge the baby boomer generation to take off the rose tinted glasses and consider a pre marriage agreement (pre-nup) or a cohabitation agreement. They should also draw up new wills reflecting their changed status.

It may seem unromantic, or even distasteful, to be considering the financial ‘what ifs’ so early in a relationship, however  ‘silver splitters’ considering re-marriage or living together should protect their assets and those of their children from previous marriages. Without such agreements in place if the couple splits up, or one partner dies, the remaining partner could be left with nothing – or conversely – could be left with everything at the expense of other family members.

Imagine, for example, a 65-year-old man with two grown up children, who divorces after 35 years of marriage. He meets a divorced woman who also has older children. They marry, pool their resources and buy a lovely home together.  They haven’t made new wills or drawn up a ‘pre-nup’, although the husband has a will he made immediately after his divorce. He dies very suddenly and his original will is null and void because he has remarried.  In such circumstances, the law takes control of his estate and is likely to give a large tranche to the wife – even if they have been married for a short time.  His grown up children receive smaller amounts and will have to contest the decision in a potentially costly legal battle.

If our fictional ‘silver divorcees’ had drawn up a ‘pre-nup’ and had their wills in order then both the new widow and her late husband’s first family would have financial security.

If you’re among the increasing numbers of ‘silver separators’ who will be tying the knot with a new partner, we urge you to factor in the legacy you leave for future generations into your wedding preparations.

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On Tuesday July 2 Mr Justice Roderic Wood jailed Naomi’s estranged husband Tamer Salama for a further six months for contempt of court.

The 39 year old mother says she continues to be extremely grateful for the widespread messages of comfort and backing from the public since launching the “Bring Elsa Home’’ campaign in advance of Elsa’s sixth birthday on 2 February this year. The campaign is backed by high-profile politicians and authorities including Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Roberta Angelilli, the European Parliament’s child mediator who has taken Elsa’s case to the European Commission, MEP Edward McMillan-Scott, Naomi’s own MP Rachel Reeves and West Yorkshire Police.

We would like to also thank national and regional media for their continued support and coverage of Naomi’s story including BBC Leeds, Radio Aire, Yorkshire Evening Post, The Times, The Independent, The Daily Mail, Sheffield Star, Daily Echo.

Kate Banerjee, head of Jones Myers children’s department, who is representing Naomi, said: “Naomi has undergone 18 long and traumatic months since Elsa was snatched from her care in Egypt.

“Facing Tamer in court and hearing him continue to refuse to reveal Elsa’s whereabouts has understandably been harrowing for Naomi. We continue to appeal to anyone who knows anything about where Elsa may be to pick up the phone and help us return this little girl to her mother.”

Ms Banerjee, who is also a member of the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit, urges anyone with information about Elsa who has dark, wavy hair and blue eyes and usually wears glasses, to call the following telephone numbers.

To make calls inside the UK dial 101 and ask to speak to Leeds District Safeguarding Unit at West Yorkshire Police. If dialling from outside the UK, please call 00 44 192 437 5222.

If you are concerned that your child may be at risk of abduction then contact the police immediately and seek legal advice.

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You may have seen our client Naomi Button propelled back into the media spotlight this week on her tenacious campaign to find her daughter Elsa Salama, abducted in Egypt in December 2011.

Naomi and I were invited to participate in media interviews to coincide with a report highlighting a 40 per cent increase over the last year in global family disputes, including kidnapping of children by a parent. The report was published by the Office of the Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales which is brought in to help deal with international family disputes, including some abduction and child custody cases. The office handled three new cases in its first year in 2005, increasing to 65 in 2008, 180 in 2011 and 253 in 2012.

The renewed media interest in Naomi’s case followed the initial publicity in January this year – which revealed how six year old Elsa was abducted by her father Tamer Salama during a family trip to Egypt.

The plight of cases such as Elsa’s highlighted the human heartbreak behind the annual report. We are hugely grateful to Clive Coleman, the BBC’s Legal Correspondent, BBC News, BBC News online, Sky News, ITV’s Daybreak, BBC Radio 4 Today, BBC Radio 5 Live Victoria Derbyshire Show, Frances Gibb, legal correspondent at The Times, BBC Radio Leeds and Radio Aire for helping to further boost awareness of the challenges facing Naomi in her campaign to bring Elsa home to Leeds.

As specialists in all areas of family law, at Jones Myers we are well aware of this significant rise in parental child abductions. The increase in International marriages and relationships – coupled with the high rate of family separation – means that we often see cases of parental child abduction when there is a family breakdown and one parent or the other may return to their home country.

It was heartening to hear Lord Justice Thorpe, co-author of the report, calling for wider judicial communication and I support his call to encourage more countries to sign up to the Hague Convention which brings reciprocal judiciary arrangements whereby judges in each country will communicate to help return children. Recent good news has seen Pakistan’s interim law minister indicate that the government plans to ratify the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction. This is a positive step forward for the return of children from a country that has one of world’s highest rates of child abduction.

While The Office of the Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales has been able to help some parents, the annual report highlights the challenges that others like Naomi face when a child is abducted to a country outside of the Hague Convention.

Egypt – like half of the world’s countries – is not a signatory to the Hague Convention.  Despite having a custody order in Egypt and an order in England and Wales for the return of Elsa to her mother, Elsa’s whereabouts remain unknown.  We do not have the benefit of this judicial collaboration and assistance where a judge in England could call a judge in Egypt to help find Elsa and return her to Naomi.

Naomi’s plight has brought messages and social media posts from parents concerned about their own children. Here are some of my preventative tips:

• Apply to the Court for a Prohibited Steps Order (PSO); this prevents either parent from taking their children to any specific events or any trips without the express permission of the other parent.
• Ensure that contact is supervised and in extreme cases, you may wish to stop contact altogether.
• Keep passports safe and consider depositing them with a solicitor.
• Contact the Passport Agency and ask them to block the other parent from applying for a new passport.
• Notify the school about who is allowed to collect your child from school.
• If you receive a threat of child abduction or if your child has been abducted: Contact the police immediately who can issue a port alert to airports and ferry terminals – A recent photo of your child and the other parent and details of the airport or destination you think they may be heading to will help the police to focus their search.
• Contact Reunite, the UK’s International Child Abduction Charity which operates a 24 hour emergency helpline 0116 2556234.
• Seek legal advice immediately.

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The annual report of the Office of the Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales will show a further rise in international child abduction cases.

This increase is in line with figures from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office last December, which revealed an 88 per cent increase in parental child abduction cases over the last decade. The FCO receives four calls a day to its specialist advice line – more than half of which are new cases.

Next week’s report is likely to raise questions about why international child abductions are on the increase and what more can be do to help distraught parents whose children are taken from them.

The issue goes to the heart of the plight of six year old Elsa who was abducted by Naomi’s estranged husband Tamer Salama in December 2011 during a family visit to Egypt. He remains in jail in the UK for failing to disclose where his daughter is hidden.

In the countdown to Elsa’s sixth birthday on 2 February 2013, Naomi launched a social networking campaign comprising a dedicated Facebook Page and Twitter account – @BringElsaHome – in the hope that someone, somewhere might come forward with information to help find Elsa and bring her home.

Naomi’s appeal received widespread coverage across TV channels including BBC Breakfast, Sky News, ITV This Morning, Channel 4, Channel 5 and BBC News 24 and national press including The Telegraph and The Independent. Our local press and radio / TV stations ITV Calendar, Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire Evening Post, BBC Look North, Radio Aire and BBC Radio Leeds also gave their full support to Naomi’s campaign. Local news agency Ross Parry played a key role in spreading Naomi’s story to newspaper readers across the UK and secured a major feature in Bella Magazine.

Since its launch in January the Bring Elsa Home campaign has attracted thousands of likes on Facebook, hundreds of followers on Twitter and, most importantly, attracted the support of political heavyweights. Naomi’s own MP Rachel Reeves took the case to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office while the European Parliament’s child mediator Roberta Angelilli is working on Naomi’s case following the intervention of Edward McMillan-Scott, MEP for Yorkshire and Humber (Liberal Democrat).

Child abduction specialist, Kate Banerjee, who heads the Jones Myers children’s department said: “The findings of the Office of the Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales will undoubtedly raise questions about why international child abductions are on the increase – and what more can be do to help distraught parents whose children are taken from them.

“Behind these cold and worrying statistics lie heart wrenching stories like Naomi’s and other clients who call on the expertise of our child abduction team. If you are concerned that your child may be at risk of abduction then contact the police immediately and seek legal advice.”

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Naomi’s plight has hit the headlines following a High Court ruling that her estranged husband Tamer Salama will remain behind bars for failing to disclose where his daughter is hidden. The judge also gave the go ahead for global publicity in the hope that Elsa will be returned to Naomi who lives in Bramley, Leeds.

In the countdown to Elsa’s 6thbirthday on 2 February, Naomi has launched a social networking campaign comprising a dedicated Facebook Page and Twitter account – @BringElsaHome – in the hope that someone, somewhere may come forward with information be able to ascertain her whereabouts.

Length and breadth of support

Our grateful thanks go out to the public and media who are supporting Naomi’s campaign to Bring Elsa Home.

Naomi’s appeal is receiving widespread coverage across TV channels including BBC Breakfast, Sky News, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV and BBC News 24 and national press including The Telegraph and The Independent. Our local press and radio / TV stations ITV Calendar, Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire Evening Post, BBC Look North, Radio Aire and BBC Radio Leeds are behind the appeal and are running stories about Elsa’s abduction. We must also give huge thanks to local news agency for their key role in spreading Naomi’s story to newspaper readers across the UK.

As a result of this tremendous coverage and support we are receiving e-mails offering help which we deeply appreciate.

Sadly, cases of parental child abduction are on the increase. The Foreign Office’s Child Abduction Section is receiving an average of four calls per day and at Jones Myers, we are receiving an average of one enquiry per week.

Below is Naomi’s story, which will resonate with parents everywhere. It is followed by tips and advice from our children’s department for anyone concerned that their child could be at risk.

Who to contact

Anyone with information about Elsa should ring the following numbers: within the UK dial 101 and ask to speak to Leeds District Safeguarding Unit at West Yorkshire Police and if dialling from outside the UK the number is 00 44 192 437 5222.

Naomi’s story – the abduction

As Naomi Button faces a second year without her daughter, Elsa Salama affectionately nicknamed as a “mummy’s girl”, her estranged husband – Egyptian born Tamer Salama, 35, – remains behind bars in England for refusing to comply with court orders to return Elsa to her mother.

Naomi, 39 from Bramley, Leeds, has not seen or heard from Elsa since she was abducted by Salama from the seaside resort of Sharm El Sheikh on 27 December 2011 while on a holiday to visit her paternal family in Egypt.

Naomi has a custody order in Egypt, the support of the Child Abduction Section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is backed by her MP Rachel Reeves.

High Court judge labels abduction as ‘gross act’

Only last week Naomi’s plight was reinforced in the High Court in London.

On sentencing Tamer Salama to a further 12 months in jail for his continuing failure to comply with court orders to return his daughter to her mother, His Honour Mr Justice Cobb said that Elsa was being deprived of the “love and care” of her mother “in circumstances where I am satisfied that her father has it in his power to achieve the restoration of her relationship”.

Mr Justice Cobb told the court that Salama had failed to return Elsa to the jurisdiction of England and Wales – as well as failing to give any information about the child’s whereabouts or provide any form of contact between the girl and her mother.

The Judge added that when Tamer Salama deprived Elsa of the love of her mother and arranged for her to be in the care of his own family that was a gross act that undoubtedly justified the most serious punishment available to the court.

Salama has been behind bars since early January 2012, having returned to the UK to launch a smear campaign against Naomi following the abduction.

At the initial sentencing handed down to Salama in March 2012 His Honour Mr Justice Mitchell said it was beyond his comprehension that as a human being and a father who loved his child Salama could place Elsa outside the reach of any form of communication. He continued, “It is unspeakably harmful to the emotional welfare of your daughter. It shows me that you are a man with a hard heart, determined only to get your own way.”

The plea from Naomi and her lawyers

Naomi has no information about Elsa’s whereabouts and does not have any proof that she is alive and well. Salama says that Elsa was moved from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo by Elsa’s grandmother (who speaks no English) but neither Salama nor his extended family has provided any information as to her exact whereabouts.

Kate Banerjee says: “Elsa was abducted by her father in Egypt on 27 December 2011. He has consistently refused to reveal her whereabouts, although we believe she is still in Egypt.

“Elsa is without the love and care of either a mother or father in a country where she doesn’t speak the language or understand the culture. We appeal to anyone who knows Elsa’s whereabouts to just pick up the phone and help us return this little girl to her mother.”

Naomi says: “To snatch Elsa away from me was the cruellest thing anyone could do. For the family to hide her and prevent her from having any contact with me and prevent any information being released is devastating and I appeal from the bottom of my heart to Tamer’s family to please give her back to me. All they need to do is to make one phone call to the British Embassy.

“I know that Elsa will be desperately missing her mum, her friends and her home – not to mention her pet cats Buzz and Junior. I cannot imagine what she must be going through. Elsa could never bear being apart from me for even a moment; she is very much a mummy’s girl. The anguish I have suffered over the last thirteen months has been almost unbearable at times.”

Advice from our children’s department

Understanding of parental child abduction is alarmingly low and cases can take years to resolve. The situation is made more difficult if a child is taken to a country that has not signed the Hague Convention, an international agreement between certain countries which aims to ensure the return of a child who has been abducted by a parent.

If you are concerned that your child may be at risk, here are some preventative steps to consider:

• Apply to the Court for a Prohibited Steps Order (PSO); this prevents either parent from taking their children to any specific events or any trips without the express permission of the other parent.
• Ensure that contact is supervised and in extreme cases, you may wish to stop contact altogether.
• Keep passports safe and consider depositing them with a solicitor.
• Contact the Passport Agency and ask them to block the other parent from applying for a new passport.
• Notify the school about who is allowed to collect your child from school.

If you receive a threat of child abduction or if your child has been abducted:

• Contact the police immediately who can issue a port alert to airports and ferry terminals. Recent photos of your child and the other parent, together with details of the airport or destination you think they may be heading, will help the police to focus their search
• Contact Reunite, the UK’s International Child Abduction Charity which operates a 24 hour emergency helpline.
• Seek legal advice immediately.

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