Describe your situation and get instant plain English guidance on child arrangements, maintenance, parental responsibility, grandparents rights and domestic abuse protections — checked against official sources.
↓ Try the Checker NowFamily law covers a wide range of situations — child arrangements, maintenance, and parental responsibility among them — with courts and the Child Maintenance Service both playing a role depending on exactly what's being disputed.
For most family disputes, you're required to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting before applying to court — except in cases involving domestic abuse or genuine urgency. This isn't just a formality; mediation resolves many disputes without needing a formal court application at all.
You can agree child maintenance privately between parents, or apply through the Child Maintenance Service for a legally enforceable arrangement — if a private arrangement breaks down, you can apply to the CMS at any point for stronger enforcement options going forward.
This checker gives you a plain English read on your specific situation, answered only from its own guide for your part of the UK, checked against official sources. No login needed, and your answer is generated instantly based on what you tell us.
Our guidance covers many common situations, but complex or high-stakes cases need professional advice. Official information: GOV.UK (England), GOV.WALES (Wales), mygov.scot (Scotland) and nidirect (Northern Ireland). For free help, contact Citizens Advice (England 0800 144 8848, Wales 0800 702 2020), Citizens Advice Scotland (0800 028 1456) or Advice NI (0800 915 4604), or speak to a solicitor.
Free to use: Run any checker, read your full results and download them as a printable report — no account needed.
Describe your situation and we'll check your rights under UK family law
Tip: Focus on one issue at a time for the clearest answer. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. For domestic abuse support call Refuge: 0808 2000 247 (free, 24/7).
Say where the child lives (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland), your relationship to the child (parent, married or not, on the birth certificate or not, step-parent, grandparent), the child's age, and what you need: parental responsibility, where the child lives, time with the child, or child maintenance.
Free · Guidance only, not legal advice
Do grandparents have automatic rights to see grandchildren in the UK?
Grandparents do not have automatic rights to contact or residence with grandchildren in the UK. They must first apply for leave of court before applying for a Child Arrangements Order. The court considers whether the application is in the child best interests.
How is child maintenance calculated in the UK?
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) calculates maintenance based on the paying parent net weekly income. The basic rate is 12 percent for one child, 16 percent for two children, and 19 percent for three or more children.
What is a non-molestation order?
A non-molestation order prevents a person from using or threatening violence or harassing another person. In England and Wales, breaching a non-molestation order is a criminal offence carrying up to 5 years imprisonment. Courts can grant these urgently without the respondent being present in cases of immediate danger.
Analysing your situation...
Checking against current UK family law
Generating...
The checker answers only from the guide for the nation you choose, plus what you tell it. If your question is not covered there, it says so instead of guessing. Each guide was checked against primary sources on 25 September 2026.
Spotted something missing, wrong or out of date? Tell us, or comment on the guide.
Directed and published by Matt Thompson, founder of UK Work Rights. Guidance checked against GOV.UK, ACAS and legislation.gov.uk. This is general rights guidance, not legal advice.
UK Work Rights is completely free and always will be. If this guidance helped you, a small donation helps keep the site running and updated for everyone.
100% goes to running and maintaining this free service. No pressure — the guidance is always free.