Day-To-Day Care and Contact (Custody and Access)
The Care of Children Act 2004, effective from 1 July 2005, introduced changes to terms used around the custody and access of children. ‘Custody’ is now called ‘day-to-day care’, while ‘access’ is now called ‘contact’. These links help explain the changes to looking after children when a family has separated.
Divorce and Separation
A collection of links to Government websites about what you need to know legally about custody and access when your relationship has broken down.
Care of Children (Guardianship, day-to-day care, contact)
An introduction to the Care of Children Act 2004, guardianship, parents appointing new partners as guardians, parenting agreements, parenting orders, appearing in the Family Court, supervised contact, and breaches of parenting orders.
Parents’ Guide to Caring for Children After Separation - Putting Your Children First
What to do first, understanding your own feelings, communicating with both children and ex-partners, and sorting things out for children when you can’t agree.
Information Programme for Parents (How to help your kids when you separate)
A programme that aims to help parents understand the impact of separation on their children and to help them support their children
Family Court pamphlets
Online pamphlets that you can download from the Family Court website, about the Care of Children Act 2004, and issues around family separation. There are also pamphlets for children.
Pamphlets include:
- An introduction to the Care of Children Act 2004 (including English, Arabic, Chinese (simple and traditional), Cook Islands Maori, Fijian, Hindi, Korean, Maori, Niuean, Samoan, Somali, Tokelauan and Tongan language brochures)
- Appearing in the Family Court (Care of Children Act 2004)
- Breaches of Parenting Orders
- Guardianship
- Lawyer for the Child
- Parenting Orders
- Parenting Agreements
- Parents Appointing New Partners as Guardians
- Paternity
