Jeanette Stevenson (https://www.linkedin.com/company/18837980/admin/) successfully represented her public access client, the respondent, in an application to vary the current order of the family court.
The applicant applied to vary the current child arrangements order to an equal shared arrangement with our client having equal time to spend with the child.
Jeanette argued that the court should consider the welfare checklist, in particular – the likely effect on the child of any change in his circumstances. It was argued that it was not in the child’s best interest to spend 4 consecutive nights away from their mother who had always been the primary carer for the child. She argued that such a change would be a drastic change from his current routine. He had never spent more than 2 nights away from mother since he was born and this was reflected in the current order. Jeanette argued that such a change at such a young age was not in his best interests and that there was already a court order in place which allowed for the child to spend time with his father.
The court agreed and did not accept that it was in the child’s best interests to spend an extended consecutive 4 night period away from his mother at this juncture.
Jeanette’s full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/jeanette-stevenson/