Hi all
Just wanted to seek some advice please on my upcoming enforcement hearing.
In a nutshell, my daughter’s nearly 3 and the following has happened.
child arrangement order set in February 2024
in May the mum started breaching the order
she has been to social services and claimed sexual harm against my 2 year old by me
I have the medical records to prove that she was told by doctors on more than one occasion that my daughter had nappy rash and that there was no sign of sexual harm
social services have been involved and been to see me and closed the case(twice now, as the mum complained about the first closure)
the police were involved for a few days and have closed the case down straight away in may
I have asked relentlessly to have my daughter again as per the court order and the excuse of a mum is saying no as she has PR and she isn’t satisfied with the work of social services etc…
im Due to have every other weekend all weekend and a midweek overnight.
So it’s been 3 months now since I’ve seen my daughter after being a constant in her life, her mum is using this to disrupt the court order but finally I have my enforcement hearing date.
I also have a 6 year old from another relationship who’s now not seen her sister and vice versa in all that time. I have regular overnights with her still
there’s a lot I need to get across in court about the worrying nature of my little ones mum, for example she has now dragged my child out of 2 nursery’s already as she thought she was being abused there, I have the report from the nursery that shows all this despite medical evidence saying otherwise.
she’s also been to the doctors over 60 times in under 3 years as per her medical records for pretty much everything and she also has a criminal record for violence, and a really turbulent upbringing that may be driving this behaviour.
added to that what she is doing to my relationship with my child.
my question is…..somehow she’s managed to get legal aid and has a solicitor for the hearing. (It’s only listed for one hour)
I have a lot of things I want to get across in that hour and wondered if it’s worthwhile getting a barrister? I’ve not got much money but can prob just about afford it, or in peoples experience is the outcome going to be the same? As in are they just going to enforce my order and let the mum get away with some awful behaviour? I want her to be punished to stop her doing this again, and I also want a slight amendment to the order so i can avoid any contact with her mum personally as this has caused too much toxicity.
Is there also a chance that despite every bit of professional evidence available that a judge or magistrate can take her lies seriously? Her only point now is that she doesn’t think social services have done a good job (it’s been signed off by the social worker and two of the managers there now, as she keeps making complaints about them)
Thanks for reading, any help, advice or past experience would be great, thanks again
SM 1021
hi,
You may have more court hearings to attend in future if she carries on this behavior, so will cost you a fortune if you use solicitors/barristers. with right guidance you can self represent. you should prepare a position statement for your next hearing. try to get something in writing from SS that mentions the allegations and case closed. you can private message me if you need advice.