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Hi. I am self representing myself. I have completed the relevant forms and I have a court date for a first hearing for a child contact order. The court office has sent me the court summons which they state has not been served. Two attempts were made to serve the summons.
My question is what happens next if the summons has not been served on my ex? The first hearing is scheduled for 20th iof April. I know who my ex’s solicitor is as she sent me a solicitors letter. All the solicitors letter said was that she was seeking a reaidence order to place before the court and sought to know if I agreed to it. I have not heard anything from her solicitor since despite me emailing him a reply and requesting proposals for child contact.
My question is what happens due to the fact the summons hasn’t been served on my ex to appear for the first hearing on 20th of April. Is there anything else I can do? Do I ask her solicitor to serve it on her? Do I just go to the first hearing myself even though she won’t be there. What will the judge do if the summons hasn’t been served?
Thanks
I live in Northern Ireland. Here summons servers used by the court attempt to serve summons. There was two attempts and the server wrote no answer to the door.
Obviously getting her solicitor to serve it on her would be the easiest option but what happens if she has changed solicitors?
Do I turn up to court alone?
Can I send her her copy of the summons by recorded delivery? If she got a Royal Mail slip to attend parcel office I’m sure she’d sign it out of nosiness but maybe not...
I would ring the court and ask them - I would have thought that only so much can be done before the courts go ahead without her. I would possibly send her a copy yourself and get a proof of posting from the post office (shouldn't cost anything) - that way you have further evidence that it's been posted (and assumed to have been delivered) without her having the option to refuse delivery.
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