Welcome to the DAD.Info forum: Important Information – open to read:
Our forum aims to provide support and guidance where it can, however we may not always have the answer. The forum is not moderated 24 hours a day, so If you – or someone you know – are being harmed or in immediate danger of being harmed, call the police on 999.
Alternatively, if you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are worried about you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please click here: How we can help
I am writing this on behalf of my partner. He is a heartbroken mess.
He has a 2 year old daughter with his ex. He has not seen her for the past 14 weeks, since the birth of our baby girl. The 2 weeks prior to when she was born she was in our care while the mother was in rehab for alcohol addiction. It was all a palapa, she wanted him to have the child for the 2 weeks but the grandparents didn't. Team around child were involved and came to check his daughter was safe and happy with a social worker. After meeting with his ex when she returned from rehab he felt it safe for his daughter to be in her care, however the next day when I gave birth he received a text saying he wasn't to see her again.
Team around child and social services said that it is out of their hands and must go through to mediation. We got a solicitor who wrote to his ex inviting her to attend mediation. She wrote a letter back saying she was not interested in mediation. My partner phoned her and was able to speak to his daughter for the phone for a long time after 8 weeks. That was the only occasion and she has since moved house and changed her phone number. Mediation have set up a meeting just for my partner and have sent another letter to his ex's parents house.
It is all taking so long, but now with no contact details we just don't know what to do. Can anyone help with some advice please? This is killing us.
Hi
unfortunately, this isn't uncommon. Your partner will need to get from FM1 from the mediation, will means that his next move is to apply for a contact order. Take a look at the sticky topics at the top of the legal eagle section on self representing, and that will give a good idea of the procedures.
If you don't know the whereabouts of the mother you can apply to the court under section 33 of the children Act for a seek and find order. This would be done with form C4. Once you have the form FM1 from the mediator you can then apply to the court for a contact order with form C100, and the seek and find order at the same time. Because of the mothers alcohol problems you would also submit form C1a to outline the risks to the child. So you would submit 4 forms as follows
FM1. The form from the mediator to show that mediation has been attempted.
C100. The form to apply for a contact order.
C1a. The form that allows you to outline any risks to the child.
C4. The form to apply for a seek and find order that allows the court to ask any relevant parties to reveal her wherabouts
It sound complicated but its very doable, as actd say have a good read of the stickys at the top of the legal eagle section, there
are some YouTube videos there too. This will help you understand the court process. There is a court fee to submit the applications which would usually be £215 but under certain circumstances you may be entitled to an exemption and this would be claimed with form EX160a.
Solicitors can be so very expensive and fees can reach into the thousands. Many here have chosen to self represent and you will find lots of advice and support here if you decide to take that route.
You might like to consider attending a Families Need Fathers meeting in your area, you will get lots of support and legal advice from them. Here's a link to their webpage where you will find details of meetings in your area
www.fnf.org.uk/help-and-support/local-branch-meetings
Good luck!
Welcome to the DAD.info forum.
We don’t like to set ‘rules’, but to make sure that you and the other dads are kept safe, we have some requests. When engaging with the forum, please be aware of the following:
- The forum is not moderated 24 hours per day.
- Many of the moderators do so on a voluntary basis. Whilst they may be able to provide some guidance, advice or support, they may not be able to deal with specifics.
- We are not an emergency crisis service so if you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call emergency services.
- If you are concerned about the safety of a child, please click here to find the support you can get for them (link to new page)
- If you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
We hope you find this forum a supportive environment and thank you for joining us.