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Hi,
First time poster on here so sorry if I've posted this ij the wrong forum but I just need some advice if possible.
I have a 6 year old son, nearly 7 with my ex partner. We split up about 4/5 years ago. She has 2 other kids with her new partner.
For the last 3 years we have been doing a 50/50 schedule, albeit not a court ordered one just one we agreed to.
One week I'll have him Monday,Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday the next week I'll have him Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. His mum was picking him up from school on those days and then I would pick him up from his mums when I finished work (she lives up the road from the school, about a 10 minute walk away) up until around a year ago when I started picking him up from school on my days. I was paying her £230 a month but stopped all payments when I read the gov website said I don't have to pay anything if care is shared equally. Again, this, was a mutual agreement between us not through CMS.
I would take him to all of his hospital appointments (he has speech therapy and a few operations), dentist appointments, split school clubs, split uniform costs on top of this, and still do now.
She then suddenly out the blue told me she is changing the days I see him to every Wednesday and every other weekend, because she thinks the chopping and changing between houses is causing him to be more emotional and some behaviour issues. He is absolutely fine with me, so seems to be a problem when he's with her but I did suggest one week at mine one week at hers so his schedule is a bit more consistent but she rejected that.
I did not agree to this new schedule, and told her this and said I will pick him up from school on my scheduled days. When I went to pick him up from school yesterday, I was waiting outside his classroom when she text me saying she had picked him up from school, this was at 3:09pm, he comes out at 3:10pm. The teacher saw me and came over and told me that she had picked him up at 3pm and has also asked the school if she can do this every Thursday and Friday.
My questions are:
1. I'm going to apply for mediation in regards to child arrangements, any idea on the likely hood I could retain my original 50/50 care?
2. If mediation doesn't work, I will go to court. How likely is it the judge will side with me in terms of 50/50 schedule we've been doing for years.
3. Is there anything I can do with the school to stop him being taken out of school early on my days? I'm planning on showing up regardless, I guess I would need a court order?
hi,
its possible the courts will restore the 50/50 arrangement. they will look at many factors and make decision. I recommend you self represent. you can do it with right guidance. Alternative would be solicitors and cost of average case can be about £15000 and above. feel free to get in touch if you need help with the process. sending you private message.
seems like there will be chaos without a court order, as any parent can turn up to school and remove child.
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