First Hearing - Advice please

If you are lucky there may be a CAFCASS officer at court and there can be some conciliation (where the officer speaks to both parties separately and together if appropriate).

The standard starting position in most cases seems to be fortnightly weekend contact although this depends upon the ages of the children, the previous involvement of the absent parent in the childrens' day to day life and the logistics of facilitating contact in this case.

As the children are young and with the distances involved fortnightly overnight contact seems appropriate as this introduces a regular routine and allows the children to travel only one way in any one day.

The main issue here is the childrens' right to see both parents and whilst you are making compromises so is your ex who will be seeing the children infrequently. I don't want to play devil's advocate but the children will benefit from seeing both parents particularly when they are able to be civil to each other. Spending money on needless Children Act proceedings will not improve the situation.

Keep an open mind at the first hearing and be prepared to accept advice from CAFCASS and from the Judge.

Charles

Thanks for the advice. It's the being civil that seems to be an obstacle for him, but that is one of the reasons all other attempts at resolving this broke down. Let's keep our fingers crossed that good sense prevails on all sides!

The interim agreement between CAFCASS and the courts stipulates that an FCA must be present at all first hearings unless excused.