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Good morning,
I am after some advice on how to tackle my ex's statement in reply to position statement, that runs to some 34 pages.
There are, as one would expect a lot of counter claims and she is trying to paint me as an aggressive person. She also points out at length how our children don't want to stay with me for more than a few days.
We are in court for our first hearing on the 31st and I am wondering if I should get back to refute her claims?
Any advice would be most welcome.
Many thanks
my advise to you and its only advise that i have recieved from someone in the same position is, when your court date comes and your with her in a room discusing your options, dont under any circumstances play into her hands. If she is saying things that aren't true bite your lip. when asked for your reply simply say with a smile on your face that she is the best mother you could have chosen for your child, aswell as this youve never known someone that loves your child as much as you do. that all you want is to put this behind you move on and give you child the life they deserve. If your cool calm and collected youll see her become the aggressor and when she does this infront of the authorities they'll see her for what she is.
I agree - there's something that my granny used to tell me (that's a long way back) - if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all, and I think that advice stacks up well in court - stress the positives that will come from contact with you, but don't say anything negative about your ex, and be positive about her when you can, just as F_D suggests. If she says something about you that isn't true, you could just look down and gently shake your head - the judge will see it, and it will speak more than if you object to what she is saying, unless, of course, the judge asks you directly to comment.
Same goes for your statement.
...34 pages is pretty long and you haven't had the first hearing yet...I wouldn't worry about responding at this stage. It's usual for the judge to ask for statements and its better to follow court procedure on this...that said there's nothing wrong with you going over her accusations and addressing them in bullet form for your file, this will help you to keep a handle on the case and you may be asked to write a statement in response to her allegations at a later date, you will then be fully prepared for this.
The advice from FD and actd is spot on!
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