Well thats it, no more funds available, up to eyes in debt already and still no end in sight.
My Scott Schedule is now submitted for the Finding of Fact hearing on 9th Dec....or as i hope i can say...Proving shes a liar hearing! i have enough evidence and hopefully the courts will see through her lies and make her start acting in the best interests of our little boy!
i won't be holding my breath though as i'm now acting for myself from today onwards, i'm just very worried this is going to be my downfall but i have no option but to carry on.
the biggest worry is she's on legal aid and gets to have a Barister where i have just the truth and a lack of legal knowledge to fight her Barister.
so....guys if you have represented yourselves what am i likely to expect? i've been trying to read up on things but if i'm honest my head is spinning and hurting like [censored] trying to work out what to say /do / not do / try / not try....
the one thing i have got going is the tablets keep me less emotional these days so i should be able to hold it together in court.
Findging of fact i guess will lead to court then setting a direction hearing.....which i'm sure will be contested by her if positive for me or if not what i want then by me.....then contested hearing will be the court telling us how its going to be........but is that the end? or is there more to come?
Dad-i-d
Hi
I presume that you have read Yoji's guides (sticky topics at the top of the legal eagle) as this will give you a good start. Hopefully, yoji will pop on here also and give you some guidance, but now you are representing yourself, the CCLC are able to give you advice, so if you have any specific questions, either give them a call, or post it on here, and we'll ask them to give guidance.
Good luck with it all - the courts do make an allowance for the fact that you are representing yourself - one word of advice I would give is that before you go into the court, ask the clerk to the court the correct way of addressing the judge/magistrate as this is a simple courtesy to observe.
Hi Dad-i-Dad,
Sorry to hear of your situation.
You are worried about going up against a Barrister, take it from me they aren't as smart as they would like to think. And i would from personal experience actually question the issue of you actually needing any legal/law knowledge.
Remember that the Court Representative (whether that is Legal Adviser, Judge or Magistrate) can all help you understand any particulars relating to the Law.
What information is going ahead from the Finding of Fact appointment? If you read my sticky, now a Finding of Fact hearing has gone ahead the Courts should revert to an interim or if you are lucky a second hearing. Be prepared that Mediation will be a likely Order from the Courts at this point. You will be expected to attend.
It is very important that you do not become agitated, aggressive or in any way unpleasant while in Court. Your first impression will carry much weight.
After several hearings as per the Sticky there could be many more hearings dependant on the circumstance. If you are on Medication be prepared for the angle which she would come from regarding the welfare of the child for someone who is currently on medication.