Help me understand this letter re family court directions appointment

[PippilottaLongstocking]

Private info blocked out and relevant info highlighted. If hearing is at 10am does the sentence I’ve highlighted mean I have to be there 45 mins before 10 (ie 9.15)? (Although I’ll aim to be there at least 20 mins early)

I’m so stressed about this already without having to guess where I have to be and when! Why on earth doesn’t it just say ‘arrive at X time’???

No that’s a standard letter basically saying you’ve been allocated 45 mins for the hearing HOWEVER I would recommend getting there for 9.30 at the latest as things will need to be discussed and sorted.

Sorry correct that. Yes you do I didn’t notice the second bit of typing under the other bit of yellow. It’s quite hard to read!

Play it safe and get there for 9.

It says your hearing is allocated 45 minutes, AND you must get there 45 minutes early, ie 9.15am.

It is worded that way because of a stupid way the government tried to rip off legal aid advocates by only paying them from the time they were ordered to attend (when we always turned up early to narrow or settle issues before the hearing, to keep the heavy lifting off the judges. A couple of weeks of all the lawyers rolling up at 10.00am, and the incensed judges all started putting provisions like that in the orders so we could get paid properly and help the judges do their jobs once more.

Stupid bastard Tories.

karigan just realised the highlighting makes it quite hard to read, sorry! I’ll just get there extra early and hope someone there can explain it to me. Thanks for replying!

As a pp mentioned, it means you’ve been allocated 45 mins and you also need to be there 45mins early. Just be there for 9.15 to be on the safe side

mrsbert thanks! I wish they’d use basic language for those of us who haven’t studied law (and people like myself whose brains cease to function under the slightest bit of stress)

Best to be there at 9.am. There will be security on entering etc

Agree with everyone else. You need to be ready to start at 9:15.

Thanks all! It’s now been postponed anyway and the letter telling me that also explained the times better!