To worry that a court could order this?

[ctgeqp]

Ex DP has recently got a job 5.5 hours drive away. Dd (2.5) has always lived with me and DP has seen her most weekends (never overnight, he’s never wanted that).

I am worried that he will suddenly decide he wants 50-50. Would he get this? Would dd have to travel every week? What if he didn’t get 50-50, would I have to drive 2.5 hours a week to enable her to meet him and see him?

for clarity, I absolutely want him in her life but have recently become worried about him suddenly wanting her to live with him

From doing lots of reading and research though, courts/judges all are so different and even people with the same circumstances, don't come out with the same orders.

I'd try not to worry about all that yet.

Do your best to do your part, making child available etc.

Is he paying maintenance etc?

For now, focus on what’s actually happening.

This. It's entirely unlikely he's goign to ask for 50/50 at this point. And even though family courts are notorious at letting women and children down, it seems extremely unlikely that a judge would agree that a 2 year old should be travelling this far to spend 50/50 with someone who has never had her overnight. Don't borrow trouble as my mum used to say.

If it's any consolation, and I appreciate this is just one anecdotal story, a friend's ex took her to court because she didn't want him taking the children away for 3 weeks. The judge said that perhaps if he actually did his court ordered time, a holiday could be considered, but to fly with the children to the other side of the world when he was currently having them no more than 1 night in 14 was not fair on them.