How we help
Personal Support Across Every Area of Child Custody
Disagreements over a specific situation are rarely a one-off. They often impact how you co-parent day-to-day. At McKenzie Picave, we have more than 25,000 court room hours behind us and deliver specific issue guidance that looks at your whole situation, not just the issue in front of the judge.
Child Arrangement Order
Outlining where your child lives and who they spend time with. We will guide you through the process from your first application onwards.
Parental Alienation
Do you feel like your relationship with your child is being undermined by the other parent? McKenzie Picave will help you gather the evidence the court wants to see.
Prohibited Steps Order
Stops the other parent from taking a specific action, such as relocating your child abroad without your agreement.
Cafcass Guide
Understand what Cafcass does, the questions they may ask and how to properly prepare for their involvement.
Parental Responsibility
What parental responsibility means in law, who holds it automatically and how to apply for it if you don’t.
Grandparents’ Rights
Contact with a grandchild isn’t automatic after a family breakdown. McKenzie Picave will explain the options available to you.
Specific Issue Order Guidance
A specific issue order is designed for parents who can agree on most things, except one thing, and that one thing has reached a genuine standstill. Maybe you can’t agree on which school your child should go to or whether they should have a particular vaccination. This is usually a single decision that neither parent is willing to give way on.
The narrowness of this tends to be what makes it manageable. Rather than the court being asked to judge your parenting or relationship, they are being asked to answer one specific question. They will answer this using the same welfare-focused approach that applies to any decision that involves a child. This means that the strength of your case relies on how clearly you explain why your opinion is right for your child.
Good specific issue guidance will begin with separating that one decision from everything else. We often see parents arrive looking to describe years of frustration, and while this is understandable, it’s not what the judge is looking for. They want focused, relevant reasoning. At McKenzie Picave, we help you decide what is genuinely relevant to the issue, ensuring you only go to the judge with the information that they want.
When Agreement Feels Impossible
Sometimes disagreements find a resolution with a conversation, but other times they don’t. That’s why people come to us. Not because the relationship has completely broken down, but because the one specific issue has stalled everything else. At McKenzie Picave, we help you decide whether court is genuinely the right step. Sometimes, there are other ways to resolve issues that can be tried first. If you decide that court is the right choice, we will help you build a case that remains focused on the decision itself, using our years of experience.
We also spend time helping you understand what happens once an order is made. While a specific issue order settles the question, it does not change how you communicate with the other parent moving forward.
Considered insights on the law that affects you
That Family Law Guy: Unfiltered
Our founder’s podcast and articles unpack the legal issues we see most often in non-legal jargon.
McKenzie Friend Support
McKenzie Friend Support in Leicester, Leicestershire and the Rest of England
Solicitor fees are more accessible for everyone, which is what McKenzie Picave is here for. Across more than 3,000 cases and 20-plus years, we’ve supported parents through single-issue disputes as frequently as full child arrangement cases.
We won’t push you to court if there is a better route for you to go down, because that is not what’s best for your child or your case. But if court is genuinely necessary, we will sit beside you through it, help you prepare and make sure the one issue that matters doesn’t get lost in everything else. If a barrister is necessary, our partner chambers serve England and Wales and are familiar with how we work.
You Don’t Have to Face This Alone
Whether you are fighting to reach an agreement or you’re ready to take the matter to court, McKenzie Picave is here to support you at every stage. We will help you understand the specific issue order process and how to clearly present your case.
Contact Us
Confidential, no-obligation consultation
For more information or to request a callback, please fill in the form below. A member of our team will respond shortly.
Tell us what’s happening and what you need.
We help you organise documents, write statements and know what to expect.
We are by your side for every hearing and every step after.
FAQs
What is a specific issue order?
A specific issue order is a family court order that resolves a particular disagreement between parents about a child’s upbringing, where they can’t reach an agreement themselves. These disagreements include decisions about their schooling, medical care or religious education, for example. where they can’t reach an agreement themselves.
How is a specific issue order different from a prohibited steps order?
A specific issue order asks the court to decide a particular question, such as which school a child attends. Whereas a prohibited steps order stops a specific action from happening at all. They’re often used in similar situations but serve different purposes.
Do I need to try to resolve the issue before going to court?
Yes, the courts generally expect the parents to have tried alternatives before applying, but this does depend on your individual circumstances. At McKenzie Picave, we can talk you through the expectations in your situation.
Can a McKenzie Friend give me specific issue order support in court?
Absolutely. At McKenzie Picave, we can help you prepare your evidence, organise your paperwork and sit beside you throughout the hearing, offering guidance at every stage. We cannot talk to the judge on your behalf, but we can help you know what to say to the judge.
Recent articles
Stay informed with the latest insights, updates, and guidance from the team at McKenzie Picave. Our recent articles cover topics across family court proceedings, legal support, mediation, and real-life issues affecting individuals and families today.
UK Family Court Delays
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“It could happen…”
McKenzie Picave is delighted to announce the elevation of our very own Daniel Ryan to the new title of Lord Justice Daniel Ryan sitting in the Family division of the High Court. Okay, maybe not but just...
McKenzie Friend v Solicitor
McKenzie Friend vs Solicitor: What Is the Difference in the Family Court? The difference between a McKenzie Friend and a solicitor in the family court is significant. A solicitor is a legally qualified ...