For parents with a child arrangements order · England & Wales

The order was broken. Or your child won't go. Here's what to do next.

The Contact Order Survival Kit tells you what the family court actually expects, step by step, with the messages, log and checklist ready to copy tonight.

Get the kit for £27Instant access. Read it tonight.

★★★★★ 5.0 from 8 verified reviews on Find a McKenzie Friend

The Contact Order Survival Kit on a tablet beside printed pages: a contact log, three calm messages and a checklist
A mother at her kitchen table in the evening reading on a tablet, court papers beside her
Does this sound like tonight?

You're doing everything you can, and it still keeps going wrong.

  • Your child is crying at the door and you don't know if you're allowed to keep them home.
  • The other parent didn't turn up again, and your phone is full of messages you wish you hadn't sent.
  • Someone online told you to ring the police. Someone else said it's your fault.
  • You've read the order three times and you still don't know what you're supposed to do next.

You don't need a solicitor's bill to know your next step. You need someone who's seen this a hundred times to tell you, calmly, what the court expects and exactly what to write.

What parents are told online

Three things you've probably heard that aren't true.

You've heard

"Every other weekend is the rule."

The reality

There is no standard pattern. The court decides what is best for your child, using a checklist.

You've heard

"If they break the order, call the police."

The reality

The family court enforces contact orders, not the police, unless someone is in danger. There is a proper route, and a form for it.

You've heard

"If my child won't go, I'm in breach."

The reality

The court looks at whether you had a reasonable excuse and whether you genuinely tried. What you write down matters.

Inside the kit

Everything you need, in plain English.

Read it on your phone tonight, or print the templates and keep them by the kettle.

Printed pages of the kit: the cover, a contact log, three calm messages and a checklist
The guide, plus templates you can print
A parent holding a phone showing the contact log from the kit
Your contact log, ready on your phone
1

How the court decides contact

The welfare checklist explained simply, so you know what the judge is weighing up and can build a plan around your child's routine.

2

When your child won't go

What to do and not do, what to write down, and when to ask the court to look at the order again.

3

When the order is broken

How to keep a log, what to say, when mediation helps, and how the C79 enforcement application works.

4

Templates to copy tonight

A contact log, three calm messages, a one-page summary for court and a checklist before you apply.

Yes, I want the kit for £27
Who made this

I've sat beside parents in this exact situation for over 11 years.

I'm Nabila, a McKenzie Friend. Before I helped anyone, I spent seven years in my own family court case. I know what it's like to stare at an order at 3am and not know what you're allowed to do.

This kit is what I'd tell you if you sat at my kitchen table tonight: what the court expects, the calm next step, and the exact words to use. It costs less than a single letter from a solicitor.

Is someone in danger right now? Call 999. National Domestic Abuse Helpline, free 24 hours: 0808 2000 247. Keeping you safe

A father at the front door at handover time, his young child beside him with a rucksack
What parents say about Nabila

You're in good company.

★★★★★

"The judge commended my McKenzie friend on 2 occasions for supporting us through a settlement on the day."

PAUL J.Separated parent, three years in family proceedings
★★★★★

"She helped me feel heard, prepared, and less alone."

MICHAEL W.Litigant in person, hearing at short notice
★★★★★

"Nabila very fast became a friend and support that I needed."

JACK F.Parent, working to see their baby again

Verified reviews on Find a McKenzie Friend. Read all 8

The Contact Order Survival Kit on a tablet with its printed templates
The Contact Order Survival Kit

Know your next step tonight.

  • ✓How the court decides contact, in plain English
  • ✓What to do when your child won't go, and what to write down
  • ✓What to do when the order is broken, including the C79 route
  • ✓Copy and paste templates: contact log, three calm messages, court summary, checklist
A single letter from a solicitor£150 to £300
Family solicitor, per hour£250 to £400
The Contact Order Survival Kit£27
£27

One payment. Instant access on screen, on any phone or laptop.

Get the kit for £27Secure checkout
Questions

Honest answers.

Is this legal advice?

No. It is McKenzie Friend support and information, not legal advice. It explains the process and gives you templates so you can act calmly and represent yourself with confidence.

Does it work in Wales?

Yes. It covers the family courts in England and Wales, which follow the same rules for child arrangements.

Is it for mums or dads?

Both. It is written for any parent with contact problems, whichever side of the order you are on.

What if I need more help after reading it?

The kit ends with your next step: 9 days' access to my McKenzie Friend Portal for £9, or a one-off consultation with me.

What if my child is in danger?

Call 999. The kit is not for emergencies. National Domestic Abuse Helpline, free 24 hours: 0808 2000 247.

Supporting Family Law is a trading name of Sweet Liberation Ltd (company no. 16051036). McKenzie Friend support and information, not legal advice. We are not a substitute for a solicitor or barrister. Keeping You Safe · Terms and Conditions

Contact Order Survival Kit · £27Get the kit