How quickly can we get a contact order drawn up?

[lilacisinlove]

My DP has a 2yo child with his ex, they were not married. They broke up 18m ago. She lives over 200 miles away in the house they used to share and jointly own with her two DC who are not his, as well as their child. DP goes up to see his child at least every other weekend, often 3 out of 4 weekends a month, but they do not have a formal arrangement. He also talks to the child on the phone most days and is in almost daily contact with his ex. He pays half the mortgage, all the nursery fees, child support and for a lease car for his ex. He and I do not live together.

Since he told her that he is in a new relationship, she has become obstructive about contact. Sometimes he has booked flights and a hotel for a weekend trip to see his child and then his ex says they are going away for the weekend. Sometimes she does this and then changes her mind at the last minute and he gets to see the child after all. He has booked flights and a hotel for this weekend, as agreed with his ex, and she is now saying she will be away visiting a friend and he can't see the child. Next weekend he can't visit, the one after that is Easter and he wanted to collect the child and spend Easter weekend at my home. His ex refused to 'allow' him to take the child away from her home town. She is now saying that she will be away for Easter too so he can't see the child then either.

He has had enough of the game play and is going to take legal advice and put a formal, legally binding agreement in place. Any idea how soon this could happen? He will do whatever is necessary to see his child and can't bear the idea that he might not be able to until the court force his ex to co-operate.

[Collaborate]

If urgent (ie no contact is taking place) the court can list it for a hearing within 2 weeks to a month. Otherwise you're looking at around 6-8 weeks for the first hearing, but courts do vary. His solicitor should be able to tell him more.

[lilacisinlove]

Thanks. The last time he saw the child was just two days ago, but because of the current situation it isn't clear when contact will be possible again.

[ChocHobNob]

We have had a similar thing. H has put in an application for a contact order due to the amount of contact being disputed rather than the principle of it. From the date the application was handed in to the court, there was 7 weeks to the date of the first hearing.