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Really hoping someone can help!
I have a 5 year old daughter. I haven't seen her since she was 2. I'll give a brief synopsis coz its long!
November 12: last time I saw her
February 12: ex tries to take a non molestation order out on me - I was able to prove her lies and it was rejected
March 12: i instigated contact proceedings
Between March and January 13 she was able to put off court dates because she was pregnant by her new partner.
January 13: she finally shows in court. Judge orders her to allow me to see my daughter in a contact centre.
Feb 13: ex files a dispute. Doesn't want my daughter in a contact centre. Says she has no way of getting there even though I know for a fact she has a car. I offer to pay for her travel there and back. She refuses. This goes back and forth between both solicitors for 3 months until decide to take her back to court.
October 13: Turns out her new partner is a convicted felon - violence, served 8 years in prison! She has my daughter calling him daddy. Judge rules section 7 report to be done by social services due to their involvement with her family. At this stage my fiance is pregnant as is my ex by her be partner.
March 14: section 7 completed. Advises felon is rehabilitated. Advises my daughter to undergo life story work to reintroduce her into my family and I.
July 14: ex has avoided all calls to begin life story work. Ignores social workers knocking on the door. Back to court it goes.
September 14: she says she couldn't do it as she'd just had a new baby and had relationship troubles. Says ok it can start - complete lies,
December 14: back in court, again said oh no I think my daughter is too young to have this. Judge rules it needs to start immediately.
January 15: still hasn't started.
March 15; back in court. She's pregnant again. Says she doesn't want it to start until baby arrives. Judge agrees!
June 15: back in court - baby has arrived and judge says it needs to start immediately. Ex agrees - it still hasnt happened.
September 15: Back in court next week.
How the [censored] is she getting away with this? It's nearly 3 years since ive seen her! Time and time again a judge rules in her favour despite her having my daughter call a convicted criminal daddy. She has lied time and time again and breaks court order after court order and gets away with it.
My daughter has a sister she doesn't know. We can't set a wedding date as I don't want to get married without her there.
I paY for my daughter every week. My ex even took a second case against me to claim on my mothers estate. This has cleared me out and im broke from legal fees and paying useless barristers. I just feel like im fighting a losing battle.
Can someone help?!
Keep up the battle mate and get it back to court but represent yourself this time as you've ran out of money, solicitors and barristers are a complete waste of time and money you will gain respect off the judge going it alone.
You will get plenty of help and guidance from everyone on here, unfortunately these women do get away with it but only for so long at the last two hearings the judge has ordered contact start straight away and your back in court soon so i'm sure you will get things moved on.
Good luck man and keep on fighting keep posting and I'm sure other peeps will offer some sound advice.
Take care
Slim
Thanks Slim. I have a barrister for next week but after that im completely cleared out so will be representing myself from then on in.
Hi and welcome
Firstly, I would be very clear with the barrister that this is the end of the road for you financially with them and they really need to try and push this forward.
Beyond that, as Slim says; you can self rep, we can try and help you as much as possible along the way.
It all sounds appallingly soft from the court and judges you have seen as ultimately time is passing for your daughter and since the last hearing there has been no reason for it not to start. Hopefully the barrister will be able to convince the judge to play a bit of hard ball now.
With or without legal representation it's probably worth attending a Families Need Fathers meeting in your area, at the very least you should be able to get some pastoral support and once self repping, they can help with that too.
http://www.fnf.org.uk/help-and-support-2/local-branch-meetings
If this hearing doesn't tie things up, once you no longer have representation you can also speak with Coram Children's Legal Centre, they give excellent free advice.
Hang on in there and good luck for the hearing, please let us know how you get on and if there's anything we can do.
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