Shared Parenting Specialists

Success Stories

• Shared Residence Order

  Court proceedings between my son's mother and me had been ongoing for a year before I contacted Family Law Decisions. The case had become quite complex, with social services, a legal guardian, and then expert witnesses becoming involved. The way things were going, there was a distinct possibility that I would lose touch with my son. With the help of Family Law Decisions over the past year, I have been able to turn my case around and my application for Parental Responsibility and Shared Residence has now been ordered.

  They clearly have extensive experience of the family law process, and they are sensitive to the effects that it all can have on a 'litigant in person'. I am hugely grateful for the support they have provided in helping me stay in touch with my son, I could not have done it without them. I whole-heartedly recommend them to anyone seeking a child-focussed resolution. - Dr. P. (Surrey)

• Shared Residence Order
  Jeff Botterill was my McKenzie friend for a Leave to Remove from the Jurisdiction hearing which I was opposing. I was very impressed at the quality of service Jeff provided. He helped prepare a Position Statement to present to my ex-wife's solicitor for negotiation in advance of the final hearing. He was very well prepared for the 2 court appearances (a further directions and a final hearing) and provided case history which won me my request for a Shared Residence Order, which on the advice of her legal team, had been turned down by my ex-wife when presented in the position statement. I think her legal team was rather surprised by the knowledge and case notes that Jeff had provided me in court.
   
  His guidance and support throughout the court hearings was excellent. He put me at ease and gave me the confidence to represent myself. His knowledge of the law and the case history surrounding leave to remove exceeded any that I had heard from the two solicitors that I had used. He is also passionate about the need for both parents in the lives of their children. I would highly recommend Jeff to anyone else looking for a McKenzie friend. - 
  Mr W. (London) 
• Excellent level of parenting time and Shared Residence Order
  At my first hearing I was alone and been subject to hostility from the judge. Then last October, the same very hostile district judge refused to let my Mckenzie enter the courtroom, and refused to even listen to my evidence as to why he should be able to enter (i.e. not interested in the guidance from the office of the President, etc).
   
  On the advice of my McKenzie (the excellent Jeff Botterill), we immediately left the hearing, appealed successfully to a much more reasonable Circuit Judge - who also then reserved the case to her - and the whole momentum of the process shifted, ultimately to my (and my son's) great benefit... excellent level of parenting time, SRO, etc - Mr T. (London)
• Author and creator of The Custody MinefieldI am often asked if I can recommend a McKenzie Friend to assist a parent or grandparent in court, and Jeff Botterill is someone whose name I have no hesitation in putting forward.
   
  Jeff has experience at all levels of the family courts, his knowledge is widely respected and his conduct in court has been commended by various members of the judiciary. -
  Michael Robinson. Author of The Custody Minefield and creator of www.thecustodyminefield.com (the most visited internet site on leave to remove, internal relocation, enforcing contact orders and shared residence)
• Keeping the parent/child relationship going from some distance
  Our Family matter began in the Court's in 2005 and at that time, we were paying for legal representation in the form of various Solicitors and Barrister's, some progress was made but this took some 2 years to achieve at extortionate costs to us.
   
  We approached Jeff to enquire whether he would be able to assist us in the continuing family matter. Our only regret is that we did not know of Jeff's existence back in 2005 when our Court proceedings began - We are completely certain that his involvement from the start would have benefitted the matter a great deal and not to mention, save us a considerable amount of money that we had to pay for legal representation. - Mr & Mrs H (Cheshire)