Child arrangement self representation

hi,

when will section 7 report come out and will it be out in time for next hearing? also how old is child?

There are guides on the advicenow.org.uk website dealing with child arrangements and representing yourself in court.  There may be some helpful information there

Hi @lightinthetunnel 

I recommend you doing the following.

-  You should write your argument in a proposed "position statement".

- In your position statement, say you've had contact in the past and there haven't been any problems (if this is the case). Has it all gone Pete Tong since child arrangements order has been put forward? Then this would be red flag for the court. 

- highlight the importance of your child having a relationship with their father. 

- try and move away from allegations - this only makes it worse. focus on the child and your parenting, not your relationship with ex. 

- you need to show some willingness to compromise and co-parent. Showing the court you both can't agree will just make you look bad. Suggest something reasonable. Remember to put your child's needs first. The court will likely prefer that you reintroduce contact and build it up to a more 50/50. They are very unlikely to change residency unless you can prove safeguarding issues. You might be better off going 50/50.

- I recommend asking the case to be escalated to a District Judge, you don't want this heard by a legal adviser or magistrates. No one knows the law like a judge and they are more likely to understand the importance of fathers having access.

- has the court ordered a section 7 feelings and wishes report? then you will need to wait for this. in the meantime, ask for your sessions with in the contact centre to be recorded. 

- In regards to fathers receiving 50% access with hostile exes. It's hard, because they toxic miserable ex's will throw all the mud they can.

But if you can prove you are child-centric, dismiss any safeguarding concerns and your son says he wants to stay with you.....then it's possible. 

Just remember it's a long game. 

Hold in there. 

@felix5 This is amazing advice and I really appreciate it. What grounds can the case be escalated to a district judge? Some potential complexieties include:

- Mother restricting access for financial gain (can't really say much about it otherwise fingers end up getting pointed at me)

- Mixed race child; religion, cultural identity and large paternal family (mother trying her best to alienate my family from her)

- Mild breeches by mother (not letting us celebrate a religious festival on the day as per contact order and mother not sending weekly photographs/updates as agreed)

- Specific order of school (current pre-school is in a deprived area, poor educational outcomes but close proximity to mother and her family). Polar opposite for my situation; moved here for excellent schooling, cultural diverse area and close proximity of house to former matriomonal home

- Poor standing of living with mother (mother lives with her family but child has her own bedroom)

Are any of these factors in your experience been helpful? Mother is highly manipulative and high conflict but i'm side-stepping the conflict. At the moment i'm in a contact center due to false allegations but should be freed next month. Prior to sudden cessation of direct contact several months ago I was seeing our child 2-3 days a week with no problems except 1 dispute over mother keep changing the days to suit her and then stopped contact.