Update 01/10/08

Still no contact with my daughter or from CAFCAS. My solicitor has sent letters to CAFCAS and her solicitors. CAFCAS eventually contacted by solicitor who said there were 12 cases before mine and the case would not be heard at court on the 14th November. Asked to establish contact by any means with my daughter. They cant appoint anyone to my case because half were on long term sick and the same applies to the neighbouring counties so cannot get case transfered.
What can I do to get contact with my daughter? Its been 4 months now.

If you are publicly funded I would suggest your solicitor writes to the court for a direction that an ISW undertake the role of Cafcass in this case so that it can move along, using the argument of delay.

If you are privately paying, you need to consider if you can afford an ISW, which would be in the region of £1,500 to £2,000.

Amanda

This sounds outrageous.

Can you get a meeting with the head of the nursery? Will they help? Maybe you can arrange to see them regularly to be kept informed of how your daughter is fairing. Perhaps they could arrange for you to see her?

Also I'd make sure that your solicitor is being effective (and cost-effective). If they are not, fire them.

I feel the urgency of what you are going through. I really believe that when women prevent kids from seeing their dads for no reason other than spite, residency needs to be changed urgently - for the sake of those children.

Stay with it. You need to believe that reason will prevail.

Keep us posted. And all the best.

tmb

divorcelawyer wrote:
If you are publicly funded I would suggest your solicitor writes to the court for a direction that an ISW undertake the role of Cafcass in this case so that it can move along, using the argument of delay.

If you are privately paying, you need to consider if you can afford an ISW, which would be in the region of £1,500 to £2,000.

Amanda

Amanda - Just to clarify, does ISW mean Independent Social Worker? How does this work?

tmb

Hi TMB

Yes, ISW does mean independent social worker - sorry, should have put that in, and in this instance the ISW would take on the role of the Cafcass officer by undertaking all tasks the officer would ordinarily be charged with.

They are used fairly frequently in any event for cases Cafcass cannot take on (for instance I used one in a case where the children lived in Texas, so the ISW travelled over there to conduct the investigation and observe contact), and are currently frequently used to try and clear some of the Cafcass backlog.

Amanda

Thanks for the support.

Trouble is, I dont get legal aid and cannot afford the money you are quoting, having just paid my solicitor. I have been with my solicitor since day 1, so she knows the full story. However, so far, they have achieved nothing, but sometimes is it ' the better the devil you know!'

I have wrote to my local MP explaining the unfair situation, especially when ex can get legal aid, works as a mobile hairdresser and as 3 adults living in my former house, which is still in joint names.

Ex can ignore letters, texts, phone calls etc and not be accountable, yet she is depriving my daughter of a relationship with her dad and vice versa.

It will be hard on October 11th as it is her 4th birthday.
Lets hope she develops a concience.

Micky B

My two penneth worth.......

I'm pretty pro active as a father and perhaps a little confrontational

I would contact the police and explain that you have joint parental responsibility and that your ex is harming your child by denying proper contact. You are intending to see your child at the nursary but are worried that your ex might turn up and cause a breach of the peace. Get a log number from them

Go to the nursary, take the birth certificate and your passport, explain the situation to them and make it clear to them that you have a right to see your child, a right also to learn of the progress your child is making and will do so at a convienient time of the day (for them).

They'll probably tell your ex of your intentions and she'll worry that you may "snatch" your child away. Bet she rings you up