What are parental disputes?

A parental dispute is any disagreement between parents regarding various aspects of their child’s upbringing and welfare. These disputes can arise in any family situation such as after a relationship has broken down.

Usual parental disputes include where a child will live, or how much time a child will spend with each parent. 

Alternatively, a parent may claim or dispute paternity of a child.

Other disputes can be more specific such as what medical treatment a child should receive, which school they attend, whether they are allowed to move to another country, or disputes about their name.

When parents cannot reach an agreement on these matters themselves, the law provides a mechanism for resolving the dispute in the form of Section 8 orders of the Children act.