Kay Richardson
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Kay is a highly experienced solicitor practising exclusively Scottish Family Law. Kay is regularly instructed in all manner of family law disputes. She has particular expertise in complex child-related matters with an international dimension including, residence and contact disputes, child relocation, the enforcement of foreign orders and international child abduction cases.
Kay is known for providing clear, pragmatic and solution-focused advice at what is often an emotionally challenging time for families. She understands the stress and uncertainty clients often face and takes care to support them throughout every stage of the legal process. In all child-related matters, Kay is firmly committed to ensuring that the child’s welfare remains at the heart of her advice, with every step focused on achieving the best possible outcome for the child.
Subsidized legal aid is possible for 1980 Hague Applications.
Relevant experiences and positions
• Member of the Family Law Association
• Associate Member of the Child Abduction Lawyers Association (CALA)
Some personal questions
What is your advice to parents dealing with international child abduction?
The most important advice I can offer to any parent facing international child abduction, whether it has already occurred or there is a risk it may occur, is to seek urgent advice from a family lawyer who specialises in international child abduction matters. These cases are complex, emotionally distressing, and highly time sensitive.
I strongly encourage parents to obtain legal advice in both the country where the child is habitually resident and the country to which the child has been taken or may be taken. Acting quickly and with the right specialist legal advice can be critical in protecting a child’s welfare and preserving a parents legal options. Ensuring you are guided by accurate, coordinated legal advice from the outset can make a significant difference in how effectively the situation is resolved.
When did you first handle a child abduction case?
I first handled a child abduction case while I was a trainee solicitor. From the outset, it was clear that the case was very different from other areas of family law. It was fast-paced, highly emotive, and carried enormous significance for both the client and the children concerned. That early experience left a lasting impression on me and sparked my ongoing interest in this area of family law.
Why is it interesting for you as a lawyer to work on these cases?
I find working on parental child abduction cases both challenging and deeply rewarding. These matters are fast-paced, intense, and often legally complex, with a great deal at stake for both parents and children alike. I am acutely aware that the outcome of the case will have a profound and lasting impact on a family’s future.
What is your advice to parents who are thinking about relocating with a child?
Relocation is a significant decision and one that is often influenced by many personal, practical, and emotional factors. From a legal perspective, the primary consideration must always be whether the proposed move would be in the child’s best interests. While relocation may be very important to a parent, the court’s paramount concern is the child’s welfare.
Careful planning is therefore essential. Parents should undertake detailed and realistic research into what the child’s life would look like following relocation, including proposed accommodation, schooling, and opportunities for social and emotional integration. Equal thought should be given to how the child’s relationship with the other parent will be maintained, including practical and meaningful arrangements for ongoing contact.
Where possible, I would always encourage parents to engage in open and constructive discussions with one another at an early stage. Clear planning, transparency, and a child-focused approach can make a significant difference, both in reducing conflict and in presenting a well-considered case should court involvement become necessary.