I've posted on here recently about ex taking me through the family courts for shared residency of our DC's.
The advice from my then acting solicitor has been to avoid mentioning finances until after the final hearing, as it will confuse contact issues. However, I'm struggling financially and i'm considering making a Schedule 1 application for school fees. Does anyone know when would be the best time to make this application and if I can ask for it to go before the same judge?
By way of background, ExP and I separated in July 2013. I work full time, but was also a director of the company we owned and ran together. The business is very lucrative, but ExP pays himself minimum wage and claims poverty. He has not paid a penny in maintenance since we split, though is reaping the rewards of non declared cash earnings and tax free dividends.
When we separated, I resigned from our business (fearful that he would run up debts) but I retained my 50% shareholding. ExP then set up a duplicate company and froze me out of the original business, meaning my access to dividends was zero.
Our children go to a fee paying school and I am currently paying all the school fees. ExP's solicitor has recently written to the school stating that as he has parental responsibility, he wishes to be kept informed of the children's progress, school events, parents evening etc. I'm thinking now would be a good time to write back to his solicitor, proposing that he contributes financially?
P.S. He cannot attend school as there is a restraining order in place.