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do you have a lawyer or are you self-representing? at 1st hearing you can ask for contact in the interim. they may not allow it if your ex tells them you pose some kind of risk. expect there is chance contact will not be given at 1st hearing, and they may make you wait a couple more weeks if they decide to do a welfare report. most likely would be a section 7 report. more info here: https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/grown-ups/parents-and-carers/divorce-and-separation/what-to-expect-from-cafcass/section-7-report/
I am representing myself, I have a family law specialist with me who will speak on my behalf. So if they say no to the interim what happens then? I wait another 8 weeks for another date at court? I've only paid the c100 cost so far. So these court dates just keep going until a outcome at no cost to myself? I'm not asking for any of this.
if court does not allow contact in interim, they will probably ask cafcass to do a welfare report like section 7, which could take 10 weeks or more. they will set a date for a 2nd hearing, and by that date the report should be ready. if you will be self-representing at every hearing, then there will be no more court costs for you, unless you pay for legal advice/documents to be written up. other times you may need to pay is if court orders you to take drug tests or some parenting course, or pay to use a contact centre. hopefully it doesn't come to that.
if court does not allow contact in interim, they will probably ask cafcass to do a welfare report like section 7, which could take 10 weeks or more. they will set a date for a 2nd hearing, and by that date the report should be ready. if you will be self-representing at every hearing, then there will be no more court costs for you, unless you pay for legal advice/documents to be written up. other times you may need to pay is if court orders you to take drug tests or some parenting course, or pay to use a contact centre. hopefully it doesn't come to that.
Thank you so much. I've already volunteered and started courses to counter act some accusations so I've prepared for that. How long does these court cases go on for? I've read 26 weeks maximum is that correct?
@obsession1 Could you point me to those courses? I may start doing those too. 😀
if court proceedings finish in 5-6 months then that would be at the shorter end. they take a lot longer now due to the pandemic.
Hearing Midweek, i have a Mckenzie helping me a family law specialist. Just hoping really am that this Interim Contact gets approved or it will be Feb 22 by sounds of it. Cannot go through Xmas like this. Absolutely crazy that someone can make up a load of rubbish with no history with any agencies and get away with it. Took 5 months to get to the first hearing!
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