Posted by familylaw on 19th December 2011

Although there are no set rules about how frequently children should see their non-resident parent, it is generally considered to be in the child’s best interests to maintain a relationship with both parents, unless of course there have been issues of abuse.

Children are most vulnerable when separated parents find it difficult to agree on contact, and astonishingly about 60% of fathers lose contact with their children within three years of divorcing. Studies show that these children are less likely to succeed at school and are more likely to suffer from insecurity and anxiety.

Why is contact and access to children essential?

  • Children blame themselves for their parents’ separation.
  • Children view the separation as a rejection of them. This is magnified if they lose contact with one parent.
  • Children create a fantasy figure for the missing parent.
  • Children have more difficulty forming relationships in adulthood if they have no contact with one of their parents.
  • Children cope better with their parents’ separation and divorce if they retain a relationship with both parents.

Need some advice? Get in touch today

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
The information submitted here is used and stored for the purpose of replying to the enquiry. For more information on how we process data please visit our Privacy Policy.

Information Articles

+ More Blog Articles
Would you like to speak to someone? Find out how to get in touch...