HandoverhubGuides
Guides for separated parents
Plain-English, UK-specific guides for raising children across two homes: parenting plans, child arrangements, Christmas and school holidays, communication, child maintenance and free help. Each one links to the official sources we used, from gov.uk, Cafcass, the Child Maintenance Service and UK charities.
Arrangements, mediation and court
Child arrangements orders explained (England and Wales)
What a child arrangements order is, the C100 form, fees, MIAMs and what happens at each stage.
What is a parenting plan? With a free template
What to put in a parenting plan, how it differs from a court order, and a checklist you can copy.
Family mediation, MIAMs and the £500 voucher scheme
What a MIAM is, when you need one, costs, legal aid, and whether the voucher scheme is still running.
Can I use WhatsApp or text messages as evidence in family court?
What family courts generally consider, presenting messages fairly, and what to avoid.
Communication and conflict
Co-parenting communication tips: how to keep messages calm and clear
Keeping messages calm, clear and child-focused, with BIFF-style examples.
Co-parenting with a difficult ex: staying calm, focused and safe
Safety first, then practical ways to stay calm, set boundaries and keep the focus on the children.
Parallel parenting: what it is and when it helps
What parallel parenting is, when it can help, and how to set it up when communication is hard.
How to keep a factual record of co-parenting communication
Calm, practical ways to keep clear records of messages, arrangements, costs and health.
My ex won't use a co-parenting app: what can I do?
Why co-parents say no, how to ask in a way that works, and what you can do on your own.
Holidays, handovers and family life
Christmas co-parenting schedules: fair ways to share the holidays
Fair ways to share Christmas and the school holidays, with example patterns and sample wording.
School holidays and handovers: making arrangements work
Sharing the holidays, term-time rules and fines, taking children abroad, and calmer handovers.
Introducing a new partner to your children after separation
When and how to introduce a new partner, telling your co-parent, and what the law says.
Child handover arrangements: how to make handovers calmer
Times, places, running late, what to pass on, and a free handover checklist.
Can I take my child abroad without the other parent's consent?
Who needs to agree, the 28-day rule, consent letters, passports, and what to do if they say no.
Money, help and tools
How we write these guides
- Official sources first. Facts, fees and rules are linked to gov.uk, Cafcass, legislation.gov.uk, the Child Maintenance Service or the charity that runs a service. Each guide lists its sources and the date we checked them.
- Plain English, UK-specific. Each guide says which part of the UK it covers. Most cover England and Wales, where the family courts work differently from Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- No promises about court outcomes. What a court decides, and what evidence it uses, is always for the court.
- Reviewed regularly. We aim to review each guide at least every three months, and sooner when rules or helplines change. The date at the top shows the last update.
- Corrections welcome. If something is out of date, email support@handoverhub.co.uk.
The guides are written by the Handoverhub team at Wrenhaven Ltd. They are general information, not legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. These guides explain how things generally work, mainly in England and Wales, and aren't a substitute for advice about your situation. If you or your children are in danger, call 999.
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