[Solved] First hearing advice

Hi there

As there has been recent DV mediation isnt usually appropriate prior to court action. Hopefully your solicitor would have submitted form C1a to tell the court about the risks to your children.

Prior to the first hearing, you should be contacted by CAFCASS who will be tasked with preparing a Schedule 2 letter. This is a basic safeguarding report to tell the court about any previous police or local authority involvement with you, your ex and the children.

They will want to speak to you both, this is usually by telephone, this will give you the opportunity to tell them about your concerns, its always best to be open with them, but you should try not bad mouth the mother, just present the facts and let them draw their own conclusions.

Its likely the court will order further more detailed welfare reports, this would usually be in the form of a Section 7 report.

Its helpful if you prepare a very brief Position Statement to take with you to the hearing, to tell the court a little about the background to your case, your concerns and what you would like to happen.

Theres lots of info in the stickys at the top of the legal eagle section about the process, which you may find useful and if you have any specific questions, please dont heaitate to ask.

All the best

Mojo has given you very good advice and you're fortunate to have a solicitor so the process should be relatively simple for you. Feel free to keep messaging on here and we will support where we can.

Had my first hearing today and got 50/50 live with both parents! Solicitor spoke to ex and she agreed !

On cloud 9 !

Hi There,

I bet you are well done great result

GTTS

Well done and great result, fingers crossed you can both keep it focussed for the children and that she sticks to the agreement.

That's great news! You're fortunate that the ex decided to go with your proposals, it could have dragged on otherwise. Time to put this episode behind you and get on with being a great Dad. Well done!

Excellent result - the best possible for everyone. Well done.

Yes me and my solicitor was baffled because pre court all she was offering me was a pick up from school mid week but I had to drop off back with mum!

Cafcass pushes for this review hearing to check everything is going well in 4 months time so that was the only downfall really. They was concerned it was a big step for my daughter.

So my worry now is ex will make stories up and say week on week off not working come November .

But she is delighted she is getting full child maintenance for having my daughter 14nites a month ! I know soon as I say no
Need for me to oay with us having 50/50 everything will kick off !

Check with CMO if you still have any liability now 50/50 is in place. I know it sounds bonkers but sometimes one party still ends up having to pay something, even though it is usually drastically reduced.

Great result though and thank you for sharing. Continue to keep a log of anything that can be considered evidence if you're going back to court at a later date and think she will make false claims.