Needing some advice. I am a Mum and about a year ago I left an abusive relationship but I was only 'allowed' to leave if there was a 50:50 split in child residency. At the time I felt it was my only option to get away but problems arose for the children. As any attempts to talk about these with the children's Dad ended up with him becoming angry and not sensoring himself infront of the children who would become very distressed I felt I had no option but to go to court. A residence order has just been put in place which means my children are with each parent 50:50. During the process my youngest boy (ten years old) told Cafcass that he wanted to stay with each parent equally, he wanted it to be fair for each parent, an understandable response from a young boy. My eldest however said nothing but this informed the courts decision. My eldest boy, who is twelve, does not want to be with his Dad for this amount of time, he is scared of him and does not feel safe there , but is too scared to speak out. I feel as though I can do nothing to protect him, the court system would not act on what I said as there was not any actual solid evidence backing what I was saying and my oldest could not speak up fearing his Dad's reaction, he is a volatile man who excuses his behaviour by explaining that it is only a reaction to my unreasonable behaviour. I believed that the courts would help me protect my children but they have actually taken away my power to do so. Advice please.