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Hi all . I’ve had a look through here and at least one things comes out that I’m not alone fighting this.
My boys mum will only let me have one week for summer holidays, never Christmas Day only
Boxing Day and will chop and change my
Weekend times at will.
I tried Mediation and it was basically 45 minutes of her slagging me off.
I have asked her for more time repeatedly
And she just refuses. I feel court is the only option left.
Now...
Do I ask for shared custody and compromise on half
Of Holidays plus the weekend arrangements?
Is there a sort of standard set up that the courts like ?
Lastly I am a little confused about court costs.
Is it £215 for each hearing or is there a cost list anywhere? I hear about £10000 costs but I will be representing myself .
Sorry for the big message but I would really appreciate your advice and help .
Many thanks
Msb
Hi there
There isn’t really a standard contact schedule that the courts like, although many favour alternate weekends and a mid week contact, with a share of school holidays and alternate Christmas and birthdays.
If you would like to ask for a shared arrangement, there’s nothing to say you shouldn’t... it doesn’t have to mean that there’s a 50/50 split, what it does mean is that the children live with both parents, rather than live with one parent and visit the other.
It’s often a good idea to ask for more than you would be happy with, this gives you room to be seen to compromise, without giving too much away.
The court fee is a one off payment of £215 to submit the application, that’s it, regardless of how many hearings there are within the case. The costs that reach into the thousands are for solicitors/barrister fees... which don’t apply if you're self repping.
All the best
Thank you for that that’s great advice. Just a quick one is there a cut off of amount of time after mediation you can apply to court. I have just been told by Devon mediation that too long a period of time has elapsed so they can’t issue the letter I need to add to my Form to court.
There is a cut off which is 4 months. You could try phoning round other mediators, explain the situation, that she is point blank refusing, even after mediation, and ask if they would be prepared to sign off the form.
If not it might take another session to get it done.
All the best
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