Getting experts involved in children court case

[Sisterland]

Hi,

My partner has the first hearing scheduled for next week. I've previously had advise in another thread that if parental alienation is suspected he should push for an expert to be involved - someone like Dr Sue Whitcombe or the Family Separation Clinic. How shall he go about to do that? Also, would that be at his cost of they did get involved?

He would need to make a part 25 application, but there'are no chance of that being ordered at a FHDRA. The Court should order a s7 report. He should talk to the CAFCASS officer about his fears.

www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed160413

Good article here.

DP represented himself and referenced parental alienation. The judge didn't take this very well. However, CAFCASS judged the situation brilliantly. They interviewed the children and both parents and spotted what the children's mother was doing and saying. I don't necessarily think you need an expert.

I am not a legal expert and the system may be different where you are, but where we are, the hearings are quite short, like about half an hour. I think it's important at the early stages to be positive and factual - be wary of being critical of anyone. Focus on contact and only contact, as that is the priority. Getting into ding-dong arguments about alienation at this early stage will only waste time. The court makes decisions. Cafcass do the background stuff and get to know the situation better. Use the time in court to get decisions made. Sounds like this may take a while, and you'll learn the system as you go along. Don't expect to get a long-term result in the first hearing, so keep some resources for later.