Question about a Contact Order

[exisatosspot]

ex partner moved to the other end of the country when ds was a toddler. A contact order was issued and he's seen him regularly from then until now.

I was ordered by the court to travel but I didn't have a car, so they said that he would have to come and collect him (200 miles) and drop him back. I was ordred to pay £25 per visit.

I paid the money until he cut off the child support, which was 18 months ago. He has now been ordered to pay £5 a week in child support.

He wants me to go back to sharing the travelling, which I won't do as I don't have a car. I have suggested that ds (nearly 14) goes by train. Ex partner has refused for him to travel by train.

I am unable to drive down so train is the only option. Do you think that, in light of the meagre child support, I will be ordered to pay half the train fare? I have total responsibility for ds and £5 doesn't even cover his lunch and bus fare to school each day

The court order expires in two years anyway. dh was made redundant, so we're not well off.

How much leverage has this silly sod got?

[Meglet]

hang on. Your XP moved away and you were told to drive your DS to his house but as you can't drive you had to pay your XP to come and get his own child .

Please say I've misunderstood.

FWIW at 14yo I'd say your DS should have a big say in whether he wants to travel that far. Do they get on?

[Happylander]

Jesus christ how on earth were you ordered to pay for that. My ex has just taken me to court to try and get me to drive half way and he lost.

he moved away not you. if you can't afford it thats that. Why are men such tossers!

[AnitaBlake]

So, you have always shared the travelling, in effect, and now you don't want to? He could go back and have your order enforced, contact and maintenance aren't linked in the eyes of the courts.

I want to make it clear that it does stink, but it is a possibility.