My ex is taking me to court yet again to try to get a shared residency order.
I have only just received confirmation last evening that I am entitled to legal aid and have to go to court tomorrow morning. I was supposed to file my witness statement today but did not feel happy to do so as the lawyer I have now instructed cannot see me because of the christmas period until January 4th! I will therefore be alone in court. I felt I really needed legal assistance in writing it.
I have written to the judge and explained my predicament and tried to get tomorrows hearing adjourned on the grounds that I have not been able to get legal representation in time for tomorrows hearing but this has been refused by the judge. I am terrified as I now have to go tomorrow and explain why I am not prepared and why I have not filed a witness statement.
For my last court appearance I had a Mckenzie friend but I cannot afford to pay him any longer as I have also just lost my job. The Mckenzie friend is now demanding I pay him more money in spite the fact he told me the whole case should cost me £1000 and that he knows I no longer will be using his services because of my entitlement to legal aid. I have to date paid him £550 and for that he's only helped me to the first hearing which was a couple of weeks ago...He wants another £500.
I have fallen ill with all the stress of the court case tomorrow, I don't even have money to pay my mortgage and I am relying on a nearly maxed out credit card just to buy food for myself and my son. Today I felt I was having a nervous breakdown because of the pressure of it all.
Dont know how Im going to cope tomorrow.
Any good tips out there? All will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks