Court final hearing

[Enzo61203]

Help! I have no idea what to do and all other advice I've had has been wrong.
My ex and i separated in 2015 i have be primary carer of our two daughters (7&9 now) since and their father has had them every other weekend and a bit extra in the school holidays. I fell pregnant last year and concealed my pregnancy from my children until I was 20 gone. As soon as my ex found out he started making demands and made mine and the girls lives hell. So much so that 6 weeks after I gave birth I stopped physical contact for 3 months. Its looks bad but his behaviour was awful and the distress he caused the children, by constantly placing pressure on them, was ridiculous. 4 days later court papers hit my doormat. He's asking for 50/50. So we are approaching our final hearing in just over a week. I tried to speak to him today but he wont comprise and will only except what he's after. I was wondering the weight, Status Quo will have in the decision making. Also my ex has moved a couple of towns over and doesn't drive so have make his access to his children completely dependent upon his partner (who he has only just moved in with).

There is domestic abuse involved here, and he has stated many time that my new baby is the catalyst for him applying for this now.
I'm terrified and the children don't want any changes to the current arrangements. I feel like he is using this parental responsibility to abuse me and there is no support for me.

Bump,

sorry I cant give any advice, but hopefully someone will come along who can help

What sort of legal advice do you have access to Enzo?

Don't have any advice myself, other than to suggest you get the best you can afford and ask for the girls wishes to be considered. If he lives in another town and can't drive, the court needs to ask how he will get the girls to school

If there is a history of domestic violence that is documented combined with the way your children feel, surely this will help you. He sounds very jealous to me, hope all goes well.

The court won’t consider any historical domestic abuse, as the children have been spending time with their father so they won’t see it as relevant as it will have happened prior to this arrangement you’ve had. Your focus needs to be on how his behaviour now is affecting the children. The courts tend to prefer the status quo unless there’s a good reason for any change.

I'm not sure, but isn't there legal aid available for people with documented cases of domestic abuse?

Have you had contact with a solicitor ?

How did he collect the children before they new girlfriend was on the scene ? Is it practical for him to get them to school from where he is now ?

Do you have evidence of the distress he was causing the children that caused you to stop contact ?

Also, if he gets 50:50 you will not longer be able to claim CMS if he paid it.

The abuse escalated when I was pregnant, I had rang the police a couple of times, and was referred to a domestic abuse support agency and had a support worker appointed to me. I made an application for legal aid but unfortunately because I don't dispute that he should have some access it was denied.
The children are settled with me and. dispite living with my babies father for the last 3 years, my care, housing, finances, or travel are not reliant upon anyone else.
Until the start of this month my ex lived with his mother in the same town as us. So travel has never been an issue before.

unfortunately because I don't dispute that he should have some access it was denied.

This wasn’t my understanding. When did you apply?

I applied in April and it was the only time my solicitor has heard of them making that kind of decision. Unfortunately they are now taking a firmer approach to limit their spending.