Court summons,....advice needed please.

[dingdongmrs]

Hi all

I have recieved a court summons today regarding my mother applying for a residence order for my son. we have previously agreed that my son will live with my mother so my question is, if i am not contesting (which i am not) do i still have to go to the court hearing or can i just inform them in writing?

any advice would be great as i dont know anything about how these things work and i cant phone the court now as its too late in the day so im hoping someone here can answer maybe, or at least give me a little idea.

thanks in advance

No one knows then?!!

They want you to attend in person.

yes i know they ask you to attend in person but if im not contesting it, is there really any need to go?! it doesnt make sense to go all that way to say "yes its fine" and then come all the home again!

why cant you be bothered to do that for your son???????

its not that i cant be bothered at all, i cant get there, i have no transport, and i cant afford to pay for a taxi to take me 50 miles there and 50 miles back!

Can you get the bus or the train?

Can you get the bus or the train?

i did enquire about taxi's but the taxi firms all stated it would cost between £120 and £160 total which i cant possibly afford. if the court would agree to have the hearing in the court in my town then i would gladly go. but if they dont, then i cant get thtere, i dont want to not go but theres no way i can. ive already asked around freinds and family but no one can take me.

no trains at all as ther nearest train station to there is 30 miles away. and the nearest bus route is 20 miles so still no good.

there's a court where the nearest bus stop is 20 miles away? Are you in Alaska?

no im not in alaska! but we are in farm counrty as they say! no big towns, just small villages if you can even call them that, bus routes are very few and far between here and there is a lot worse. its a family court, not a crown court!

Hi - this is a very sad situation for you and it sounds as though you have decided it is best for your DS to live with your mother - I suggest that you phone the court in the morning and explain how difficult it is for you to get to the court and ask if a letter will be acceptable.

I have lived in a rural situation and know how difficult it can be to access public transport.

Good luck.

country not counrty!

Hi Ragwort, thank you for your reply. it is hard but i know we are doing the right thing, doesnt make it hurt any less though unfortunately. thank you, i will phone them tomorrow and see what they say.

Bums! Agree that you should phone the Court and explain how difficult it is for you to get there.

Sorry to hear you're having to go through this - it can't be easy even when you've made the decision. Good luck

Family members are in this position. IIRC, the mother didn't attend the hearing that gave the granny residence; that's in Scotland though, where are you?

Thank you lal123.

Im in england. i know Scotland do things a little differently. ive never had to deal with all this before so im a bit lost!

ive phoned the court todasy and they have said it is fine for me to just write a letter along with my forms. i dont have to attend. thanks everyone.