These are orders that require the person with whom a child lives to allow that child to visit, stay or have contact with a person named in the order. 

For example, if your child lives with your former partner and you wish to see your child at weekends then you might apply for a contact order, if you cannot agree this between yourselves.

Contact may be direct or indirect. 

• Direct contact means that the person making the application will have face-to-face contact with the child concerned
• Indirect contact means that the person making the application for contact will only be able to communicate with the child concerned by letters, greeting cards and/or telephone calls

A good contact order will clearly state the times, duration and frequency that the child should be made available by the resident parent for contact with the applicant.  The same order should also clearly state the handover arrangements for the child.

When negotiating, it is important to bear in mind the following occasions and attempt to incorporate them in to the contact order:

• Father's Day or Mother's day
• Christmas/New Year holidays
• Easter
• Summer holidays
• School half-terms
• Child's birthday
• Your birthday
• Other special days that are important to you

If you are able to reach an agreement prior to a court hearing or outside the courtroom, it is advisable to present the agreement to the judge and ask that it be formalised in to a contact order.  Verbal agreements made outside courtrooms are easily broken and should be avoided.  In this respect, contact corders help avoid complications or problems as each party knows exactly what is expected of them.