2 years ago I decided to speak out about some childhood abuse at the hands of my sister from a young age and it turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life. My family on my mum's side disowned me and decided I was lying. I went as far as going to the police to prove my innocence but they didn't find any evidence other than my words against hers 20 years later. At this time I separated from my wife and had a very difficult break up which lead to my rock bottom and heavy depression.
My issues are my ex- wife for the past 2 years has been allowing access to my family who given on what they have done to me have lost my trust to be a part of my children's lives. This isn't a revenge ploy but a genuine concern for my children's well-being with people like this having regular contact with them. I have tried numerous times to talk to them without success and I have told them I want them to have no involvement my children but I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall.
My son at the end of December had burst brain aneurysm out of nowhere which has left him disabled with no use of the right hand side of his body. My ex-wife decided to milk all the help she could get from this and moved my kids 80 miles from me with transport taking up to 10 hours with public transport making my contact with my children limited. I have no control over my children's well-being, school, housing or any important decisions in their life and all my ex wife uses against me is I shouldn't have left them. Easy to say when you weren't the one being controlled in a toxic marriage for 7 years.
I feel like I have no support and I'm unemployed so my finances are non existent. What can I do to keep equal control of my children's lives and what rights do I have on the access my children have with my estranged family?
I cant really help with regards to your abuse when you were younger, With regards to your access with your kids you need to seek mediation of which you are entitled to legal aid if you receive an income below a certain rate here is a calculator to see if you qualify.. https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid
The ex may decide that mediation is a good idea and decide to attend or she may refuse. If she refuses the mediator can sign a c100 to go to court again where you can use legal aid or represent yourself which is much cheaper and gets a lot of good outcomes which you can find on this board.
Just remember you are now not alone and people here can guide and support you.
TheDaddy