CAFCASS and FH...views please

Have been told the CAFCASS report will be only ready four days before FH (no child protection issues). Is this enough time for judge et al to consider CAFCASS reports? Have been advised courts would see it as sensible to adjourn FH. However, my barrister and same judge booked for original dates. Anybody got experience or advice?

The same thing happened to me and I was told that this was common practice to prevent either parent from changing anything before the FH.

CAFCASS are answerable to the Court, not the parents.

The second time CAFCASS reported for my children (no child protection issues either) the Judge ordered that the report was not to be available to the parents before the hearing at all as he was mighty p*****d off that a second report was needed and that we couldn't agree issues between ourselves.

That was scary as I realised that no one was going to ask either of us but the Judge was going to make decisions about the children without consulting either parent!

My x then withdrew the application!!!

Thank you for your reply. It is really, really sad that we can't agree on the issue at hand and that we have to go to court, and it is now in the courts' hands. This has been dragged out for months because of court/bureaucratic delays, there is just a difference of opinion as to what is best for our children in the long term, as we cannot agree it is in the hands of the law now. Really, really sad it has come to this.

As a mother of 4 girls who was dragged through the courts by a bitter x who would not let things go I urge you to do everything in your power to foster good relations with your x over matters concerning the children.

Very, very sadly 3 of my 4 girls have not seen their Father for 5 years as we were never able to resolve matters.

In arguments regarding children by the time matters go to court the levels of acrimony can be so high that the parents will never agree. I so wish that things had not become so bitter.

Do feel free to PM me if you need any more advice.

Sadly when all is done and dusted it is the children who suffer.

YES i too was dragged through the courts by my bitter and twisted ex who had nothing to do with my daughter for the first 7 years of her life, caff cass got involved, I also underwent a hair strand test and a psychiatric report, it was an awful time he tried to take her away from me, fortunately it turned out fine and funnily enough now he does not want to pay anything for her.

my x wanted overnight contact with our son and i disagreed because of things she had told me about her new partner, we went to court in sept and received CAFCASS report while waiting to see judge, the issues i had raised were not in it but other more series stuff was and caffcass advised a reduction in her contact with son and conditions as well, judge went along with this and requisted a more indepth report and we go back in december to get a final order.