[Solved] First Hearing Dispute Resolution advice

hi jazz,

thanks for update. sounds just like my case. heard stupid lies being told about me in court. so there was no mention at all about a fact finding hearing?? thats very good if thats the case.

section 7 will be detailed report. you will most likely get invited to cafcass office for interview. some dads had it in their house. respond to allegations and what kind of child contact your after. they will question your child alone, and make him do drawings etc if hes very young. complete cafcass parenting plan, and hand it in at your interview.

Hi,
Thanks Bill.

So, I'm into the next phase of my melodrama....

Court date is set for October, with CAFCASS now coming to visit our home in September. Any advice or just act normally?

Yes, be yourself. Put your best foot forward but don’t make out you are the perfect father and you don’t make any errors. They are not looking for perfection.

Be relaxed, friendly, engaging and calm.

If you do have concerns about your ex, raise them without going over the top or in a negative way.

Make sure house is reasonably clean and your son’s bedroom is appropriate for his age.

Hide those over 18 horror dvds that you may have in your living room etc

So CAFCASS came and did a home visit. All seemed fine - they played a game with my son that involved putting people in houses marked Safe, Happy and Sad. I felt like I had a really good chat with them.
BUT, they just called me and hit me with so many allegations - Controlling, I'm stopping my son going to see his mother, I'm this, I'm that. Suddenly, I feel worried....is this due diligence or are they taking sides?
Help. Confidence needed.

Right....Sounds like they've seen you then gone and seen her.....and she's then come out with these allegations because she's probably heard from them that all seems OK between you and your son.

unfortunately, there seems to me to be so many cases you read about where these allegations are thrown about now that it just sounds scripted......the way I see it.....you or any other guy comes here and asks for help to see our kids and get told what you will need to do etc... within the court system and law to fight to see your kids.
they on the other hand seem to get told how to stop you and how to control you by throwing allegations in to the mix and then claim legal aid and not have to prove any of it because the courts have to err on the side of caution where children are concerned just in case you are what she claims and then they don't let another "Baby P" case slip past them.
It'll end up being about them now trying to control you.

Whether you are controlling or not they seem to really miss the point that the children need BOTH parents in their lives (unless proven one shouldn't be)

stay calm when responding to allegations and ask when these took place, why there is no mention of them before you took legal action to see your child!

I dare say that the majority of people who have asked for help on this forum have had experience of false allegations being thrown at them....more so since Legal Aid got stopped for Family Court....the only way you can claim Legal Aid now is to have been a victim of Domestic Abuse....not that Abuse is not just physical, it's mental and financial also these days!

Thanks, I think. Do I just stick to my guns and suggest to Cafcass that the lies are genuine lies?

If the allegations are false then say that they are, if you have evidence to prove they are even better show the evidence. Be truthful and open with CAFCASS and remain child focussed...i.e. don't go slagging the ex off as that can start to make you look bad.

When's the 2nd hearing jazz. Seems like yours is moving forward quite swiftly from the moment you applied. Keep us updated. I'm keeping an eye on this thread. Some useful advice by other members. Appreciate it this gents

In about 3 weeks..Cheers

By the way, CAFCASS seem to almost drag both sides into a 'He said, she said' conversation. Is that helpful at all?

With CAFCASS just state the truth and facts and don't slag the ex off, stay child focussed....it's your children's rights to have a life unrestricted with both parents not just her.