Children Act 1989: Primary legislation for child arrangements in England and Wales. Contains the paramountcy principle (child's welfare is paramount), parental responsibility provisions, and framework for child arrangement orders under Section 8.
Family Law Act 1996: Contains key provisions regarding family homes and domestic violence protections that need to be considered in custody arrangements.
Child Support Act 1991: Legislation governing financial maintenance considerations for children, essential for comprehensive custody arrangements.
Human Rights Act 1998: Particularly Article 8 regarding the right to respect for private and family life, which must be considered in custody arrangements.
Welfare Checklist: Found in Section 1(3) of Children Act 1989, provides specific factors that must be considered when determining child's best interests.
No Order Principle: Legal principle stating that courts should not make orders unless making an order would be better than making no order at all.
Matrimonial Causes Act 1973: Relevant when parents were previously married, contains provisions that may affect custody arrangements.
Equality Act 2010: Contains non-discrimination provisions that must be considered in custody arrangements to ensure fair treatment.
Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985: Relevant for cases with international elements or potential cross-border implications in custody arrangements.
