New partner - meeting children ?

[BigFatZiggy]

I am divorced with two children, my new partner has one child and his divorce is in progress.

Can either of our former partners prevent the children from meeting either of us or each other?

Assuming there are no safeguarding issues, no.

In practice, if there isn't a court order, a resident parent can be quite awkward initially about a new partner - my husband's ex said he could only have access to his children if the children didn't meet me, hear my name, see any photos of me, visit our home (we lived together, though we weren't married at that point) or see any pictures of our home! In the short term he had to comply with her demands so he could keep seeing the children. In the long term, she frustrated his attempts at mediation, so he took her to court and got a Child Arrangements Order. The CAO is brilliant because she now can't threaten to revoke contact just because he does something she disapproves of. So if either of your exes tries to cause trouble, just go to court (well, try mediation first, but it's unlikely to work with an intransigent ex). In the absence of safeguarding concerns, judges don't tend to stop children meeting parents' partners.

No safeguarding issues - just a very difficult situation.
Thanks for advice 😊👍

What dad does on his time is his decision, and who he introduced the children to is his decision. This goes vice versa. She has absolutely no say whatsoever.

My OH has a CO. Very defined.

I was introduced to his children after we had been together 9 months. The mother (difficult) wasn’t happy about this and stopped contact. She was taken to court for breaching the contact order and the judge told her in no uncertain words that she had absolutely no right to stop contact.

My ex (the RP) put all kinds of restrictions on my new partner. We then had dramas about birthdays, Xmas, Halloween. You name it.

All of these things are covered in parenting agreements - weak legally but a great process for clearing up all of the small details that can make coparenting easier. You don't want to be negotiating lots of obstacles for months and years to come, and presumably want to avoid court. I'd highly recommend it.

It forces you to make a decision when the emotions aren't there and it's hard to go back on what you've agreed.

You can download PDF's easily from a quick google.

Thank you also Northern and Brighton.

My DP is doing mediation currently and hoping to agree things there, but his STBEW is being very difficult.

Tricky keeping things out of court and with the mediator, when the protection of an order would really help make the situation clear.

@bigfatziggy Mediation only works if both sides are open to compromise. If your partner's ex won't cede any ground at all, mediation is a waste of time and you'll be best issuing court proceedings. Our only regret with my husband's ex is that we didn't issue sooner. Good luck.