Hello,
Does anyone have any direct experience either by doing it themselves or working on a legal case to vary a CAO please?
Background - court ordered CAO six years ago for exdp to see 1 dc EOW and 1 evening eow. Exdp lives 2.5 hours away, he told cafcass he was in process of moving closer and the above arrangement was agreed with Cafcass saying that ex must facilitate dc's social activities on his time (with the view that ex was moving closer soon).
Once CAO confirmed, the weeknight contact was dropped immediately and 6 years later exdp still lives 2.5hours away. Child now at school and struggling with tiredness after weekends away, fallen asleep in class twice last term, missing events. Contact has dwindled to approx. 1 weekend every 6 or so weeks on average. DC is always available, if event comes up on weekend asks ex if they can attend, always told no so presume contact is happening, then hours before handover contact is cancelled. Child upset and hard to explain that I have to make them available, but we never know when contact is going to be cancelled.
Can i request a variation so that contact takes place locally so that child can always attend clubs, school events, parties, training etc. at weekends during term time and ex dp stays overnight locally with child staying with him? Im happy to reduce cms to cover hotel costs, i am just tired of having a broken hearted child who is being punished as my ex wants to mess me around.
Thank you