Consent order

[ThePinkShaker]

Hi
Hope someone can help me. I've seperated from my husband. Need to get a consent order but I can't seem to find out the stage of the consent order. Seems like we have to agree on money, childcare, then it goes to the judge and then there's a final order. Can anyone tell me what the process is?
Thanks xx

I'd sort your financial order out first because the finances have a bearing on what you do with the kids. You want a clean break, and a full court approved financial order.

For the consent order, I'd suggest looking at the CAFCAS website and looking at their templates for a parenting plan- this is really helpful and allows you and the STBXH to build guidelines on what you need to consult each other on (taking the kids out of the country, ear-piercing, introducing to new partners etc), what you don't (healthcare emergencies etc) and also how to manage christmas, birthdays, summer holidays etc.

Sit down together and see what parts you don't agree on. For these parts, try and come to an arrangement, if not, use a mediator to get something agreed. The mediator will be able to facilitate the documents and make them a legally binding consent order and this would be cheaper than getting your solicitor to do the same.

Thank you. That's really helpful. I'll check out that website. Husband wants to buy me out of the house but I'm not sure how long that will take. Just trying to get my head around everything. Thank you

My STBXH is buying me out- he's had to get a mortgage in principal to prove he can, and then we've had back and forth trying to split the equity from the house.

I think my escapism journey (haha) has taken as long as it has because he has really dragged his feet. He is desperate to jeeo the house as renting will cost him more, and he can't afford a house this size on his own.
He never engaged with mediation, well just did the bare minimum so we lost a year to that. Teachers pensions took just under a year to get CETVs. I got fed up in the end and used a solicitor, but that's probably cost me around £15k to get to the point of an agreed court order.

If he plays ball and isn't dragging his feet, sort as much as possible with mediation. I'd say at your mediation appointment, treat it like a business meeting, summarise who is doing what actions, and book a date there and there for the next session (some of ours were sorted on email afterwards and a new data alone would take him 3 months to agree to).

Gosh, it sounds like a very long process. I'm sorry you're having a hard time. I agree the mediation is better but as you say if they drag their heels it's a nightmare. Did you have to get a court order?

My ex wants to buy me out and can get a mortgage but I'm not sure how that'll work with buying a new place. Presuming I'll need to rent before I buy somewhere.