"Special expenses" - Family court - this must have been asked before?

Hi,

Yes the amounts in expenses you can claim from CMS are very minimal, but better than nothing I suppose. I think it's better if you don't spend something like 50k on legal fees. With right guidance you can self represent or get help from a McKenzie friend.  Sent you a PM.

CMS expect primary carer to spend the money on children. But unfortunately there is no accountability on what exactly the money is spent on.

@bill337  - I completely agree on the travel expenses etc, definitely better than nothing. My question is though, any costs of going to court/legal fees due to mother's poor behaviour (preventing me from seeing the child) are costs of seeing the child. Therefore, court fees and legal costs should be "special expenses" and the whole £50k or whatever amount should be allowed..... I know in reallity CMS won't accept this, but theoretically they should. Otherwise I'd like them to simply answer the question of why am I going to court and incurring legal costs if it is not to see my child? - I've asked them to send me their special expenses form... I know this won't go anywhere but it should. Too often the law is intepretated and implimented in the way that suits a particular group/person. when the boot is on the other foot, they change their interpretation as an when it suits to fit their own agenda..

I also 100% agree that it's a completely stupid amount of money to waste on legal fees etc. I definitely think I could represent myself, and a Mckenzie Friend would make it a lot easier - that's if I rely on the courts actually implementing the law. I know I'll sound nuts, and that's exactly what the system wants, for people to sound nuts when they say anything against the system, but the court process isn't fair, reasonable or equitable - the law isn't implimented fairly in many cases. I would say that by nature I'd ordinarilly be extremely against getting barristers involved, especially where the case is so crystal clear that mum is completely insane and dad is rational and appropriate, and there is mountains of evidence to back this up. However I'm convinced that the sad reallity is, even with the help of a Mckenzie friend, and even with the ECHR articles, right to a fair trial, right to family life etc - they sound good in theory but too often they don't get implemented in reallity. The court/judge sometimes (often) isn't "fair". I know that a barrister may not improve the issue much, but at least I'll know that I did everything I could. I know I'm ranting, but judges are just ridiculous, a litigant in person could literally say  the exact same words in the exat same tone at exactly the same time as a barrister, yet the judge knows it's unlikely they'll be challenged if they chose to ignore whatever a litigant in person says. I know I sound insane. I definitely wouldn't take the same approach for all circumstances though, for instance where a father wants to increase there existing time with the kids etc, but where there are false allegations and everyone is ignoring the rules it's a bit of a different story.. I think I'll post separately about this.. there's so many issues...

@2ndclasscitizen2 

Oh mate sounds aweful. I've ejust gone through the exact same. Over 70k just to see my son..Purley malicious ex just because i left.  Thankfully got 45-55 custody but flase allegations etc really push and panic you into getting Solicitors etc. Aweful. Then the mother gets paid full cms while you wait for court.  So their bad behaviour is rewarded again. I told cms about 70k in court which is 3 lifetimes of maintenance but computer just says no. It's really is terrible. Not sure if you could recoup some in a civil case but it's all the effort and cost eh?

It sounds like you're experiencing a challenging situation with your child's mother and the legal system. It's unfortunate that you're facing obstacles in maintaining contact with your child and navigating the family court process. Regarding the issue of "special expenses" as outlined by the CMS, it's understandable that you feel the current system doesn't adequately address the significant financial burden you're shouldering to stay in touch with your child through legal proceedings.

While the CMS guidelines may focus on quantifiable expenses like £10 a week for staying in touch, it's clear that your situation involves much larger expenses related to legal fees and court proceedings. It's valid to question whether the money provided through CMS will truly benefit your child, especially if it's paid directly to the mother without oversight.

Unfortunately, there isn't a straightforward answer to your concerns. The family court process and CMS regulations can be complex and sometimes fall short of addressing the unique circumstances families face. It's essential to continue advocating for your child's well-being and seeking legal counsel to navigate these challenges effectively. While it's frustrating, staying focused on your child's best interests and pursuing avenues for fair and equitable arrangements remains crucial.