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Okay, hello and sorry that my first post is such a negative one.
Two days ago I found out that my partner has stolen thousands of pounds from my account. I'm a supply teacher starting a permanent job in September and the money was for the rent, food, and days out over the summer. We have a boy, four tomorrow, who is not my child but has always known me as Dad. A girl, a year and a half old, and a baby due at the end of September.
We split due to the fraud and I contacted the police. She has now been rehoused by social services and told that within thirty days she will be able to choose a house, and they'll pay for the deposit, first month's rent, etc.
I am now in a house I can't afford to pay rent on, with no money for food, and the children are with her. I'm a teacher and a brilliant parent, she has alcohol issues (bottles of vodka stashed around the house) and neglects the kids- I've always done the housework when I arrive home in the evenings. She has lost her family- she's had money from all of them and nobody wants to know her.
I went to a solicitors drop-in session and they are calling me tomorrow.
Ideally I'd like the children to live with me. I know what she's like- in six months she will have spent her housing benefit and be chucked out of her new home, putting our children on the street. She's also likely to be drinking after the new baby arrives- hopefully not before but I have had to speak to her three times during the pregnancy about drinking too much (ie a bottle of 5% wine every other night, hitch I think is too much.)
If anyone has any advice, please do post. I'm absolutely destroyed by my lovely children going- especially as it's my lad's birthday tomorrow.
Hi
I suspect you are not entitled to legal aid, and if not, I would think twice about engaging a solicitor at the moment as your ex may force you to drop any case by running you out of money (more than she has already done) - have a read of yoji's guides at the top of the legal section and consider representing yourself - that will only cost the court fee (about £200 I believe).
Once you have spoken to the solicitor tomorrow, if you can confirm that you haven't engaged him, we can call on the free advice from the Childrens Legal Centre to give you an opinion.
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