FHDRA and Cafcass phone appt advice

[BookArt]

Any advice for the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment or the Cafcass phone appt I have over the next two weeks? Never had to do anything like this before and worried sick.

Ex currently has no contact with children due to safety concerns. He is asking for 50% or primary parent which I can't agree to. I have hired a barrister to represent me as emotionally I wouldn't be able to articulate myself well, especially with ex being there.

Is there anything I need to do, say, prepare for? Advice about the process?

As we aren't going to agree in this hour, what are the next steps? I will speak to my solicitor when needed but financially it's killing me so trying to save every penny. Also I know how much knowledge is on this forum! Thank you!

My advice is to keep it focused on the children. It is bruising, it is emotionally tough, wishing you all the best!

As above, keep it child focused. Prepare as much as you can in terms of evidence for the cafcass interview and safety concerns for the kids, I would write down bullet points about what you want to say during the cafcass interview don’t just wing it. My cafcass officer was extremely biased towards my ex who has been emotionally abusive towards my children and she dismissed it all. Make sure you focus on the effects on the children and not on you as this is what they will be concerned about. You also have the right to dispute any cafcass report if you feel it is not accurate.

Thank you, I kept it child focused and although originally told it would be 20-40 ns it went on for 50mins. And that was just my side as his application to court is, in the cafcass officer's words, 'vague'.

I had said to my solicitor that contact in a contact centre where you don't have someone writing a report should be okay (but I have no idea what I am doing!). Cafcass officer asked and I told her, she said but actually someone there to write a report to make sure things are being done would make sense in this situation... Which threw me a bit. It'll be interesting to read her report after speaking to ex!

@warrior2018 so sorry to hear that, my friend had a similar situation where cafcass were bias to her ex. So hard to deal with! Thank you for you advice.

Thank you @Leavestumble really helped.