Can they do this?

[MyComplicatedLife]

Will do my best to brief, but it's complicated, sorry.

DP has 2 DS (DS 1 & 2) that live with us and another 2 DC (DS 3 &4) that live with their mother (not same woman)

Recent problems with DP's parents have meant that they are not allowed unsupervised access to DS 1&2. This is not our decision, but that of SS. We support it though.

When DP's parents were told this, they caused a lot of problems and went to a solicitor to demand unsupervised access. We went through our solicitor and refused this, but offered for them to visit DS 1 & 2 at our home every week.

At the same time, mother of DS 3 & 4 suddenly says DP can't see them, no valid reason given. A letter then arrives from her solicitor to say that he is only allowed supervised access to DS 3 & 4 for 2 hours per week. Supervised by their mother.

Odd thing is, they both have the same solicitor - even the same partner in the firm! We suspected they were all working together, as mother of DS 3 & 4 is determined to cause trouble, but this seems loony. Can they do this? Posted in AIBU for traffic too.

[Collaborate]

Potentially there is a conflict of interest and the solicitor IMO should cease acting for both. Confidential information in relation to one child should not be used when advising the other children. That is the conflict. The solicitor can't unknow what they now know.

that's my gut feeling anyway. There is a strict rule of confidentiality on children act proceedings (assuming they both go to court) so that would put the solicitor in a difficult position.

[MyComplicatedLife]

Thank you Collaborate

[BumpingFuglies]

Bump