Being taken to court- what exactly to cafcass do?

[washingonawednesday]

That's just it really. Ex wants to change access to something that suits him down to the ground and will be really detrimental to my boy. I've refused his plan so he's seeing his solicitor Monday.

I've looked into the process and see that cafcass do an assessment, but exactly what happens?

Ds is 19 mo if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

When cafcass were involved when me and ex were in court about his contact with dd they spoke to me over the phone about what I thought was best for dd and then spoke to ex and did a report for the judge, that was it!

cafcass will meet with you individually at court and then together to try and mediate and come to an agreement before you go before the judge. Unless there are welfare concerns, thereafter their involvement reduces to minimal to non-existent(future hearings). If there are sticking points then the judge will make the decision for you both.

Why dont you post his proposals and explain why you think they are unreasonable?

Also, how long were you together, did you live together, does the ex live nearby, how much does he see of his son currently? Do you have a sol/legal aid?

CAFCASS will visit you in your home and speak to you. They will compile a report for the court that assesses your home situation and arrangements for your child. They will visit your ex partner also.

Unless the OP has not posted more information this would be a first directions hearing - they certainly wont visit you in your home or assess your home situation. For a start the OP hasnt indicated welfare concerns.

I'm listening in here as I also am at the CAFCAS stage. I'm trying to get my young sons living with me.
I got a letter yesterday from CAFCAS saying they will telephone me soon.

Hang on - slow down! Is your ex seeing a solicitor for the first time on Monday ? Do you have a solicitor yourself?

If so, you are potentially a long way from having Cafcass involvement. If you wanted to post more info about your situation, there are lots of parents here who have been or are going through contact issues and could give you some 'real' experiences of what to expect. What is your ex proposing ?

Ok more info. Ex and I live 400me apart. I moved 300 miles first as he had an affair and left for ow and I moved back in with parents as I was a mess and needed support with my son. 6 months later he moved 100 miles in the opposite direction to live with her.

He's been coming to visit every other weekend and it's been working great but apparently not for him.

His issues-
He dosent want to do the traveling anymore
He wants to see his son in his own home rather than in hotels
He can't afford the travel and hotel bills
Ow about to have his baby and he wants our son to see his sister

So far so reasonable. However his new plan is to never come here again- my son does all the travelling instead

He wants my son to travel up and stay for 1 week in every 7 with no contact In between.

My objections-

My son is only 19 mo- I don't want him to do that much travelling
It's completely out of his routine - settled in nursery 2 days a week - took a long time to get him settled
To long to not see daddy then spend 9 days total immersion somewhere he dosent know
Too long away from me so regularly
Childcare arrangements- ex can't have that much time off, so is proposing ow looks after him mon to fri while on maternity then after 9 months he'll go to nursery up there. For 5 full days every 7 weeks. No way.

I think his new plan works just great for ex, but will positively harmful for my son

I've spoken to a solicitor and he says he should have 1 week at Christmas, summer and Easter up with ex, but the rest of the access should be here, eow or as often as he can afford.

I've offered to help find cheaper accommodation here, plan cheaper/ free things to do and suggested cheaper food options but he's adamant he's never coming here again.

I've tried to be reasonable, but if it's not in my sons best interest I'll fight tooth and nail!

Just outside the legal aid limit. I earn 12k he earns 40k

Okay - did your ex post a thread on here about this ? It all sounds very familiar?

Firstly your not outside of the legal aid limit earning 12k you do qualify

I know- I've tried compromising endlessly, but he's adamant he's never coming again.

And he's hasn't thought it through. He'd never heard of cafcass, he's done no research by the looks of it and I severely doubt he'd find a nursery that would do 1 week in 7 as its completely out of the interests of the child.

I suspect when the baby is born this may go by the wayside, but that means my son only sees his dad 3 times a year and as he's so young I suspect he'll forget about him/ not be happy when he goes up for those week stays at holiday times.

It's crap