Can anyone offer moral support at my FDA hearing in Cambridge? You’ll get to see the process

[Cc321]

I just had an idea and I’m annoyed I didn’t think of it sooner - I have my FDA on June 25 in Cambridge at 12 noon. I am acting as litigant in person and don’t think it’s worth paying for a mckenzie friend at this point and don’t have anyone to go as it’s summer and I live in Scotland now. I was wondering if anyone was able to go and just look like they’re taking notes etc. just for moral support 🙈

i think this would be great for someone who has an fda coming up and wants to see what happens in the court. I wish I thought of this before and I would have volunteered to do this for someone else. I honestly will be volunteering advice for the rest of my life o the whole divorce topic as it’s been exhausting. The not knowing what happens on the day is killing me with anxiety.

I don’t expect anything other than just stand there and pretend to whisper things on my ear that I need to note 😂.

I just thought someone could benefit from it as I say , I wish I had thought of it sooner

if be happy to take you to lunch

I can’t help you, I’m afraid. But I hope you find someone who can, and that it goes ok.

I'm sorry I can't, because that genuinely sounds interesting, but just want to bump for evening traffic for you. Good luck.

I'd be tempted to post this in Chat (or ask for it to be moved?) just to get it viewed by more people.

Bumping for you.

I hope you find someone.

I can't be there - but can tell you a little about what happens at the FDAs - First Directions Appointment.
Usually - by FDA the parties have exchanged financial disclosures, 2 weeks before FDA, or so. The parties prepare questionnaires - asking for clarifications of things that look unclear to them in the disclosures; or for missing disclosure - in case the other party failed to provide something.
On the day before FDA - parties exchange position statements - laying out a chronology of marriage, and the key issues in front of the court - ending with what you are asking the Court to do during FDA - often it is "approve questionnaires, give directions for next hearing FDR, etc
During FDA - you - if you are the Applicant - start with a short opening that summarises your case for the Judge (who might not have not read your position statement.) - and what you are asking the Judge to do.
The Respondent (or his barrister) would do the same.
Then the Judge goes through questionnaires - and you'll need to make careful notes on what they rule.

And in the end - gives directions for the next hearing.

I don't know how Cambridge Family Court works - but in London, LIPs have to mail in court binders into a scanning facility - a week before hearing. And documents are supposed to be uploaded into the system the Judge would see. Unfortunately - this doesn't always happen as it is meant to.
So - if your system of binder submission is the same - I'd bring a paper copy of the binder, the questionnaires, Schedule of assets, Needs. And bring a thumb drive with the files, to be absolutely sure.

This way - if there are any issues - the Judge's clerk can get the files, or physical documents to the judge if scanned didn't quite do what it was supposed to.

And don't worry - nothing is decided at the first appointment. It is a procedural step. Here in London, FDA in divorces are mostly done as remote hearings. And you only end up in court for FDR.

Good luck! Feel free to ask more questions - happy to talk.

So I paid to print out the 350 pages of my form e and all supporting docs and attached sheet and have it mailed to the court overnight the day it was due and you’re saying they might not have it 🙈🙈🙈🙈

Is the position statement what I start with in the court in the day ?

@Cc321
How did it go?

It went really well actually

the judge called us in early to say we both had too many questions. Because he had a solicitor the judge doesn’t really talk to him and he sits in the back and it’s just me and the solicitor for everything 🤣. Judge was quick but fair and took time to explain everything to me.

Are you going to second hearing? 1st appointment is often about ordering further info like an expert pension rreport. There is an expectation that agreement will be reached before 2nd hearing.

My 2nd hearing was remote and both parties were litigant in person. The judge literally spent less than 5 minutes clarifying and outlining what they thought a judge at final hearing would order before adjourning so parties could reach agreement. Judges play limited role and don’t really pay attention until final hearing when it would be a different judge anyway.

I got what I wanted re pension split but will have to return to court to attempt to extend undertaking to discharge liabilities for our disabled adult sons JBSP mortgage taken out post separation for which ex and I are jointly and severally liable. I can’t afford to service it on CA/maintenance (will be pension credit) and DS can’t afford to service it on PIP/UC but ex’s income is unchanged from when he voluntarily accepted full responsibility. It made sense to be able to access pension credit (I am past normal pension age for the scheme) before the next hurdle.