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Hi All
Apologies for my rambling post but I really don't know what to do.
I split up with my wife in 2007 and we are now divorced. It was a reasonable amicable split (as much as it can be) financially anyway maybe because I agreed to sign over all the equity in the house, pay maintenance etc. I was allowed, as I was only sharing with a friend at the time, access to my daughter one day per week, but no overnight stays.
That was good, but then my ex wife said it was a bit disruptive and wanted to change it to one day per fortnight. I agreed, but said I'd like her to consider overnight contact once I'd sorted a suitable place out. I now have a suitable place - but I now also have a new partner. Since this my daughters mother will only agree to one daily contact every two weeks, or whenever she is not doing anything. I've let this go a little, because if my daughter is at parties or trips with her friends then I'm a bit secondary to that. Dad can be re-arranged...I know my place! My ex wife has threatened that if I introduce my new partner I will never be allowed to see my daughter. I had no intention of such an introduction yet!
When we do go out we have fun, she says she enjoys our time and she finds the things we do interesting.
Since the divorce was finalised mid-January my ex wife has not let me see my daughter, saying 'she doesn't want to'. Again I didn't want to force things so would just text my daughter telling her I loved her, hoped school was good etc and we arranged to see each other today to go ice skating. On my way to pick her up my ex wife text (not called) to say 'Sori you can't see her'. All calls are not answered and she was not at the house (not sure what I would have said if she was...)
I might come across as if I'm being a bit passive about things, but I love my daughter dearly and don't want to cause any 'scenes' around her. I feel like I'm being completely shut out, being dictated too and I find myself questioning if my daughter really needs me on the scene at all. It's really painful. My daughter is 10 - can she decide this?
The last thing I wanted to do was involve a solicitor and a possible hearing, but I don't think I have any other options. I guess my daughter might resent me a bit for going down that route, but I feel forced to.
Any thoughts anyone? I'd appreciate a bit of guidance from experience (if anyone has had to deal with such a random ex wife of course!)
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