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Hey guys.
My mckenzie friend has abandoned me.
She was really good for my emergency hearing etc (though the judge wouldn't allow her into the phone call) but my first directions hearing is coming up and I haven't had any contact from her since October. I have sent emails and left voice mails but she isn't getting back to me. I understand they have lives too but I really felt like she understood my case and was going to be with me throughout.
I don't know what my next steps are, do I try and get another mckenzie friend?
I don't know what's going to happen in the first directions, if I need to prepare anything in advance or even how my position statement should go.
I'm at such a loss and don't want to muck it up myself by not getting clear guidance but I'm unsure if it's too late to now go over my case with a new mckenzie friend.
Feel a little at a loss.
Thanks for any help you guys can provide.
hi,
what is your court situation like, has a section 7 report come out? i self-represented earlier in the year, phone hearings. pretty stress-free. Think you can do it. just have a solid position statement in front of you.
At the moment, only had an emergency hearing and an interim arrangement made.
Had a call from cafcass and a statement submitted by my ex so waiting on the first directions hearing in a month's time so not had alot to do with court at the moment.
I had an original position statement written for my by my mckenzie friend, I don't know if it's okay to still use this one or if I should modify it slightly to say that the exs statement is full of alot of false information which I can prove if the court wishes to?
yes you can simply edit that position statement and update it. I used old one that my barrister wrote up and just updated it. what's your interim arrangement like? you should write what arrangements you are seeking in a final order. you can address ex's allegations if court wants you to do that. keep any eye out for the court papers that arrive in the post. they are very specific about what statements they want from you.
There is a lot of information online to help you prepare. The RightsofWomen website is one place to start. There is also information on representing yourself. The AdviceNow site has several helpful guides. The main tip is to get it short and factual. You might get an idea of the style of writing from the one your McKenzie did.
The interim arrangement is that the children live with me, and she get 4hrs unsupervised of a weekend with them.
Final outcome i would like is everyother weekend over night stays with her and 1 weekday if she would like it.
I will take a look at those websites and try and find the advice, thank you
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