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Hi all,
thank you for this forum.
I have just been served with a conciliation appointment notice since my ex wife is requesting the court to issue a residence order.
the background: i divorced in 2005 and my daughter (11yrs old) has since lived with her mother. we're all british and my ex and i have of course parental responsibility (PR) but, she has now decided to go ahead and file for a residence order.
I live abroad and currently (sadly) unemployed. What options do i have? do i need to be physically at court or can i be excused and be represented by a solicitor? Will it be costly?!? Can I ask the court to adjourn the hearing to a more convenient time (will give me time to gather some money and find a cheap flight to the UK)? Does anyone have any experience with fathers being abroad in similar situations? what's the best course of action for both myself and my daughter?
As a side point, my ex is I believe doing this so that she does not need to check with me when she wants to take our child out of the country - unfortunately recently she decided to have our daughter travel abroad on her own and she got quite upset when i was not particularly happy about it. She's also not compromising in giving me her availability for this summer as I would like to spend time with my daughter then when she has her school holidays. I am wondering how all this will be affected by a residence order - i have the feeling whether she gets the residence, whether it is a shared one or she gets denied I will still have to apply for a contact order to ensure i have regular access to my daughter - any input on this?
thanks in advance for your support even if only moral 😉 and apologies if i raised too many questions, but i'm a little confused and the clock is ticking - the hearing is at the beginning of may.
cheers
This has a few complexities, so I'd say you are best speaking to the CLC on this - it may be best giving them a ring to get a quick reply.
This has a few complexities, so I'd say you are best speaking to the CLC on this - it may be best giving them a ring to get a quick reply.
thanks actd, done that 😉
well, based on my personal situation i was told that my ex has not understood the meaning and purpose of a residence order, at any rate it was confirmed that it is in my and my daughter's best interest if i applied for a contact order (c2).
I've instructed a lawyer to support me in this case.
Hopefully everything will be sorted at the first appointment in court.
😉
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