CARE Fertility Bulletin Board

fifi_78 · 18 Feb 2008

Ladies I posted over a year ago asking for some advice as my DH mother wanted to take us to court for weekly unsupervised access . Cutting a long story short ish myself and DH have no relationship with his family and we had threats of being taken to court march last year for her to have weekly access !

Well we have come home today to court papers for a date in June !!!! Omfg !!!! To say that we feel totally panicked and sick to the stomach at the thought I am in such a state Sad

we have little spare income at the mo let alOne anything to cover solicitors fees ! All of the stories I can find o the web are examples of where the child's parents have seperated but we are very much together and just don't know where to turn Sad

I have made an app with a solicitor for an hour ( fixed fee) but with DH having the only income in our house and being self employed this is and additional worth and his mother who had never work gets legal aid grrrrrrrf

Any advice ladies of representing your self in family courts ?? Seem to remember one lady on here who's mum worked in family law ?? Sorry ramble but we are absolutely terrified at the thought of someone being able to force us into doing some thing with our dear lo ! We have never left him he isn't quite two yet let alone someone we have no relationship with Sad

never thought we would be planing a court visit 8 days before his 2nd bday Sad

Am typing on my iPhone so sorry for spelling errors and haven't used my usual logging in name either just in case. X

karenmurray1970 · 24 Apr 2011

OMGoodness fifi78, what an ordeal for you and DH.

I'm not sure if I can offer any helpful advice to you. I certainly don't know about represnting yourselves in family court, personally I would use a solicitor with a good knowedge of childcare law. However before going to work in edycation I was a social worker working with children who were in the care system so I may be able to put your mind at rest a little.

I have just read your old post from last year and I wouldn't think the courts would grant any kind of unsupervised contact given the fact that they're has been no contact between he,r you. your DH and your son.

The courts will want to know the reasons whay there is no relationship wuth his family the court will want to know why and this is also have an effect on the outcome. CAFCAS will almost certainly be involved.

Grandparents have very little rights to their Grandchildren espeically if they don't have a relationship with them.

Good Luck with it all and try not to worry you and hubs are the parents with full parental control and you are both very much together, this will always be in your favour.

Karen

Lilibet · 30 Nov 2002

My friend is a family court laywer and she also works on 'Just Answer' in her spare time. This is an online system to get advice for all sorts of questions including legal ones, just google it and away you go!
I dont think they have a hope in hell of unsupervised contact with such a young child but you do need to know the law so you can proceed confidently.

Good luck
Liz

Lizzy26 · 25 May 2011

My husband is a family lawyer. His advice is that, given you can't afford a lawyer, you have nothing to fear from going to court yourself. It is very common and judges are used to helping out people who aren't represented. They'll be very concerned to ensure whatever happens is in the best interests of the child and you won't be at an unfair advantage. The only other thing is to think through carefully, before going to court, the reasons - from the child's perspective - why you don't think there should be any contact. People often get caught up in the emotion and their own relationship difficulties and forget to focus everything on the child. Examples of thing to think about would be do they pose a risk to the child? Why has there been no contact to date? Would there be a risk in supervised contact to start? Good luck!