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I have a little beautiful girl who is two years old next month, up untill just over two months ago. Me and my little princess had a fantastic relationship but her mother has stopped our relationship and instanly i sought legal advice, my lawyer wrote to my daughters mother and i was told to wait 14 days to allow my ex partner to respond but to no avail. I went back to the lawyer and asked whats next, i was then reffered to mediation. I went to mediation, paid 96 pound to be told the my ex partner has not replied to them either. the mediator, then said after meeting me they felt obligated to try again and again i was told to wait for a response but still to no avail. throughout not seeing my daughter i have respected my ex partners wishes by not going near her home. i have also contiuned to pay maintanice for my daughter. now i have also just made aware my ex partner has went abroad on holiday to another country without letting me know, she was taking my daughter. my name is on my daughters birth certifcate. i hurt so bad and miss my little girl so bad but i try to keep my chin up and do the right think but its been over two months now, i have not held my daughter. does anyone know i can speed this proccess up of seeing my daughter, all this legal stuff just seems to slowly. i thought with my girl having my name, i would also have rights as her father?? can anyone please give me some advice?? ps please forgive my spelling mistakes
Hi , Yes you can speed this up. You have done the right thing by first sending a letter and then inviting her to mediation. Get back in touch with mediation and ask if they will confirm in a letter that your ex has been invited and as been given time to respond and has not done so. You can take her to court your self, you need to fill in a c100 and ask for a defined contact order. There is a sticky on the top of the legal section explaining how to do this ,also copy the mediation letter and send that in with the form. It will cost you £200 ( a lot cheaper then a solicitor) lots of Dads have done this them selves . you need to send the forms to the magistrates court nearest to where the mother lives , you will get a hearing date for about 6 weeks time, this is called a direction. Just before the hearing a court reporter called cafcass will phone you and the mum to ask if there are any welfare concerns , be prepared that you ex will drum up anything she might have on you, example, smoking weed, being drunk, not looking after your daughter properly . As something changed recently to make her think you cant have her, maybe a new partner. At the court ask if you can see your daughter in the interim, explain the contact you already had before and ask for contact to be reinstated whilst its been sorted. Legal aid no longer exist for family court matters. Stay away from your ex as she may pull the , he was abusive towards me.
Hi. There,
I agree with the above, you have handled this in the right way, so continue to do this, don't go to her home and only comunicate in a way that can be recorded so she isn't able to/ claim anything false against you.
Read the guide to /going to/ court on your own as this will save you loads of money as well as giving you a better chance with the judge as you will be able to display your emotions to them.
As you have appointed a solicitor we aren't able to ask our legal experts to comment, but if you decide to let your solicitor go we will be able to so keep us posted.
GTTS
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