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I have offered to be a McKenzie Friend for someone who has no money but isn't entitled to Legal Aid who is currently being denied any contact with his son by his ex as she seems to want to delete him from her life (for example we have found out via social media that she has gone to deed poll to change her son's surname to hers without consulting him let alone obtaining his consent).
After doing a fair amount of initial research I am coming to realise how much his dyslexia, lack of education and general life experience is still going to hamper his ability to represent himself even with my help as I think he would simply clam up in court under all the pressure and stress.
To top it all his case has a number of other complications: an ex who was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar (he experienced emotional and physical abuse from her before he moved out) who is in an on/off relationship with a new partner (which she started just days after he left her) who is known to social services and should not strictly speaking have contact with children. This means that understandably he wants his child to reside with him and have regular contact with the mother rather than the other way round, but that would make the battle would be so much harder, take so much longer and cost so much more money if he did find a way to fund the fees for a lawyer.
I was wondering about whether to adopt a pay-as-you-go approach at least and get some professional advice to point us in the right direction and avoid any major clangers.
Does anyone out there have any thoughts or advice on this. Am I nuts to even think of trying to help him go it alone in the family court?
Perhaps try to seek advice from a reputable professional McKenzie Friend to assist you to assist him.
If you want to pm one of the mods with an idea of which region you're in, we might be able to assist.
You are very welcome to ask as many questions as you like on here and we will provide as much support as we can.
It's not an easy task to undertake on your part, but if you are willing, he will benefit hugely from any help you can provide.
You might like to attend a Families Need Fathers meeting with your friend. You will get advice and support from others in a similar situation, it might help. Here’s a link to their website where you’ll find details of meetings nationally, hopefully there will be one near you.
www.fnf.org.uk/help-and-support-2/local-branch-meetings
Best of luck
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