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GLOSSARY

Contact order definition

Published by a LexisNexis Family expert

What does Contact order mean?

An order providing for a child to visit, stay or have contact with the person named in the order. Now known as a child arrangements order.

Such orders made under the Children Act 1989, s 8 are usually but not necessarily made in favour of a non-resident parent. The order could be for either direct (ie face to face) contact whether on a visiting or staying basis or indirect contact (by letter, telephone, e-mail etc). Orders continue until the child is 16.

With effect from 22 April 2014 a contact order is called a child arrangements order as a consequence of amendments made by the Children and Families Act 2014, s 17.

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Contact orders in adoption

This Practice Note sets out the general principles to be applied in relation to contact orders, both prior to and following adoption. It also details who may apply for a contact order in adoption proceedings, together with the procedure to be applied and provides guidance on the duration, variation and suspension of contact orders in adoption, as well as discharge considerations.Planning for adoption and contactThe issue of contact must be addressed in the social worker’s permanency report and also by the agency decision-maker. In the rare cases where the adoption panel considers whether children should be placed for adoption, and in all cases concerning matches between children and prospective adopters, the panel must address contact issues. There is no presumption for or against contact once the adoption agency is authorised to place the child for adoption.Adoption and contact—principlesPrior to the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (ACA 2002), the clean break principle often held sway in social work thinking and court decisions, and the ability of the natural family to support...

Child arrangements orders—contact

This Practice Note explains what a child arrangements order (CAO) is under section 8 of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989), focusing on CAOs that regulate the time the child will spend or otherwise have contact with any person (formerly a contact order). It explains the factors taken into account and the general principles applied by the court in relation to contact orders. It sets out the effects of a CAO. It also explains who can apply for a CAO, restrictions on making a CAO and the duration of a CAO. It covers cases in which parental contact was refused and the presumption of continuing contact.Child arrangements ordersSince 22 April 2014 residence orders and contact orders have been replaced by a single order called a CAO.A CAO is an order relating to:•whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with, and•when a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with any personSpecific matters that arise in connection with the exercise of parental responsibility...

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Child arrangements orders—client guide

Child arrangements orders—client guide This document provides general guidance regarding applications for child arrangements orders. Your family lawyer will be able to provide specific advice based on your circumstances. What is a child arrangements order? A child arrangements order (CAO) is an order that regulates arrangements for a child that relate to any of the following: • with whom the child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact • when the child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with any person Contact simply means the time that a child spends with an adult. There are several ways that contact may take place: • direct contact between the child and the person named in the order • overnight staying contact • supervised contact, and • indirect contact through letters or cards In rare circumstances, where the best interests of the child dictate, the court can order that there is no contact. A CAO may specify the person with whom a child is...

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