Final CAO has been in place since September 2021 for DD (3Y5M) contact is twice weekly and every other weekend Saturday am to Sunday PM. We have asked for extra time which is constantly denied, which means there's never any holidays. Child is very settled and has a very close bond to all paternal family after not being able to form bonds for the first year of life due to COVID court times and repeated interim order breaks from other side.
Handovers are still very hostile with the ex screaming at the other parent in the carpark multiple times (police records are logged).
We are looking at taking this back to court (not ideal but mediation won't work - we obviously have to do this first - but we know the likely outcome)
There's no safeguarding concerns with father- we would ideally like 1 overnight each week with a Friday to Monday every other weekend and half the holidays. With handovers via nursery as much as possible. This would limit hostile handovers Infront of the child.
Father of child walks away when Mother of child is aggressively shouting at handover and is voice recorded saying the child should see the arguing so she knows what's going on.
Could we get any experiences of Varying a court order? What people had before and what they got now.
Also would the current order still be in place until a new order is final?
TIA
Hi,
Back in 2019 my court journey began. Got fri-sun every other weekend and a few hours after school on Wednesday. The kids wanted more time and so did I, so went back to court a year later and now it's fri-mon and Monday night alternating. Half of holidays. Trips abroad.
Think what your seeking is reasonable. If you can explain how it it will benefit child and also your family is important to child, should be able to get more time. As ex is hostile and causing problems at handovers, this sounds like good reasons to drop child/collect at nursery/school so he doesn't see his ex, and more importantly the child doesn't witness conflict between parents. If he wants to take child on holiday abroad, this is something he can consider seeking.
Yes your current order stays in place, unless they make changes to order during first or second hearing (interim) then you follow the new order.