Contact Query

[beachcitygirl]

My stbx has raised a motion for a child welfare hearing (Scotland) to gain contact with my daughter. we have been separated for 4 years, 2 years ago when she was 13 she spoke with the court and made her views clear that she did not want a contact order. The sheriff went with her views.
She is now 15 and a half and he is pushing again, this time claiming parental alienation. He was arrested last year for stalking my daughter (although not subsequently charged) and she tells me she does not want to see him and indeed will refuse to see him)
Does anyone think that the courts will force her to see him, given her age. 16 is an adult in Scotland. Her 16th birthday is in January. Thanks in advance. She is beside herself with worry.

No I can not imagine any court in the UK overriding a 15/16 years old's decision to not see a parent.

To clarify is it a Children’s Hearing? this system is unique to Scotland. If it is, it’s a legal tribunal with a panel of highly trained lay people and the child’s views & welfare is paramount. If so, an advocacy worker can be appointed for your daughter. The panel will have access to a multi agency report, but more importantly will listen to your daughter and take her views into account, to enable them to make a decision about contact with her dad.

It’s not a children’s hearing. Simply a request from her father for contact. The paperwork says child welfare hearing. A court reporter has been appointed to hear her views.