Family courts first hearing - what happens if I dont go?

[Truebecca]

I am the respondant in a hearing filed by my ex for a contact order with his daughter,. We don;t have a good relationship and he hasn't seen her since April. I have avoided seeing him and he has avoided making solid contact arrangements with his daughter so now he has filed court papers because he thinks he will get what he wants.
Cafcass have called me last week to ask questions and they know all about his domestic violence arrests (to me)

Does anyone know what my not going would mean?
I dont want to pay for a lawyer - I can't get legal aid and I struggle to work two jobs to pay for my life and my ex gives me £28 a month since July....

You need to go. Your ex will have to submit a contact proposal of a schedule. He won’t be granted access when he feels like it

thanks Queenofthedrivensnow I will be brave

If you don't go you will put yourself on the back foot by looking as though you are not cooperating.

You need to go.

Yes I will now I've read another thread about it too - it would look bad
life sucks sometimes eh

thanks for your comments

Go!

Are you sure you won't get legal aid? Do you have evidence of the domestic violence? It might be worth a free initial appointment with a solicitor to check that.

I think you get legal aid if dv is involved......

Take a friend but really you must attend - or decisions will be made even without you there.