Ex denying access to kids bank accounts

[JLbaby]

Just after a bit of advice, when dds (3 and 5) were born H and I opened savings accounts for them and we/family have been paying in ever since. We divorced last year and he is the ‘controlling adult’ on both accounts. He is now denying me access to either account so I can’t pay in/or access either account. He’s told me I have to open my own accounts for them so I can access them but won’t transfer/split any of the money from the original accounts (so essentially have to start from zero again).

Is there anything I can do about this? There is quite a bit of money in each account.

I’d contact my solicitor.

Why wasn’t the disposition of these accounts dealt with as part of the divorce?

I don’t know. It’s coming to my attention very quickly that my solicitors were useless - another reason I wanted to avoid contacting them! Does anyone know of a good solicitor who would deal with this?

Whereabouts do you live, roughly?

SE London.

In your shoes i would write down a list of every payment that relatives paid in. They should be able to tell you. If you have any records of payments you made include them.
Then i would send a recorded delivery letter laying out what you know to be in the accounts. Eg Tom 3000 quid, Florrie 2000 and where it came from. I would put in writing that you are following his advice re new accounts but that you will be giving the child a copy of the letter and the account details on their 18th and the cash had better be available.