My partner separated from his ex wife over 3 and a half years ago and they have been divorced a little over 2 years. The split was her idea. They have two DD (12)
She has since re-married (2 years ago)
Prior to the split my partner was the main carer for the girls. Once his ex had moved in with her new partner she took the girls to live with her. The girls have always been used to seeing their dad every day and now this has been reduced to every other weekend. He can't see them more as he's self employed and needs to work certain hours because of contracts that he currently has in place. Although it's a struggle for him to have the reduced time, he has tried to accept it and take the attitude of quality over quantity. Therein lies the problem. When it is his weekend to have the girls, there is invariably a 'blow-up' over an issue that his ex and her new husband have decided is a major problem (eg Why did they only have two ice creams when you took them away?) it feels like they'll dig around to find something - anything - to complain about and try and make it to the focus of his weekend. If he doesn't respond to phone calls and texts they increase
The girls have been told that they are not to phone their dad or message me. Their devices are checked to see if they have contacted either of us and they get in trouble if they have. Their step-dad has even punched the screen of one of their tablets - which has set off major alarm bells.
His ex has cut off all communication with my partner Although she has blocked him, she is not beyond unblocking in temporarily so she can send him nasty texts.
She wants all communication to go through her new husband but it's like Chinese whispers and it feels like he's adding and taking away from the messages.
My personal view is that neither their stepdad nor me should be involved directly with the arrangements that they need to make regarding the child care of their daughters.
My partner approached a mediation service and when they contacted his ex-wife she flatly refused to enter into the process. There are so many loose ends and problems caused by not having the basics in place with regards to the care of the children that something needs to be done.
My partner is a very gentle, quiet person and doesn't like the conflict but is desperate to do what is right for his girls however I am struggling to get him to see that taking the legal route is likely to be the only option he has now.
So, my question is: Is there any other route he can try or is the consensus, sadly, that he will have to go to court?