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My brother had a contact order to see his boys every fortnight for a few hours at a play area which went well for 4 months. When he went back to court he hoped to get his boys to stay with him Saturday night . He was willing to pick his boys up even though he lives a 3 hour drive away because she wouldnt meet him half way. But she said the journey was too far for the kids age 8 and 6. And the judge said if u can't come to some arrangement I will make it for you in 3 months time. What do u suggest.is it worth taking a solicitor next time with us to fight his case? She went off with another bloke. Do u think he will ever get his boys to stay overnight with him? Or does it depend on what the mother says? He has done a parenting class. And his boys keep asking when can we stay with u dad? Does he have any rights? He pays her money for the boys? We r just so worried what will happen next time if we can't come to an agreement what do u think the judge will say? On his last note he did say he thought the boys should come in the summer holidays for one week but she said nothing. Please advise?
Hi There,
Unless there are any complications within the situation I wouldn't take a solicitor, they will charge you a lot of money and may not gain you anything you can't get for yourself.
If you act in person then you can put your views accross for yourself and the judge is able to see your emotions when you speak which would be lost if a solicitor acted for you.
Make sure that there is an effort to try and compromise from your side and that this can be seen.
has mediation been arranged?
Darren
Hello thanks for the reply. Yes he tried but she refused. She said to the judge she was worried about safety and him being drunk! Never mind that he had passed the drug test and been seeing the boys for the last 3 months with his sister In attendance! So the judge ordered a family offer to go next time and send a report back but the next hearing will be in sept. I think whatever he says she will refuse. Do u think it will carry on like that forever every other weekend for a few hours or do u think the judge will say he can have them for a night? Even though it's a 3 hour drive away?
What if she refuses mediation? At the next court date there will be a family officer in attendance
If she refuses mediation, then it does not look so good for her. It's worth reading yoji's "guide to representing yourself" at the top of the legal section. Your brother needs to keep an accurate record of all correspondence and conversations, and ask any questions on here - if he doesn't have a solicitor, then we can call on our legal experts at the CCLC to give opinions in addition to other dads.
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