ex requesting access court order

[wavesandwellies]

I've recieved a letter from cafcass with a date for a court hearing for access and stating i need to contact them for telephone interview.

ex hasnt seen dd in over a year and theres a been a restraining order in place since Jan for me. ex has a history of serious drug abuse and has spent time in prison on numerous occasions. contact has always been sporadic and unreliable until last year when he started displaying abusive and threatening behaviour (I have evidence of all of it)

I am very new to this and don't know anyone in RL that's been through this so I'm just looking for advice and guidance in what I should do. what are the next stages? should I get a solicitor?
any input would be greatly welcomed :)

Hi, I would see a solicitor in your area, that does family law, most do a half hour free appointment. I would suggest you might be entitled to legal aid due to domestic abuse, it needs to have occurred within the last 5 years and can be emotional physical, sexual, and financial abuse. Someone such as a social worker, or doctor will need to fill in the form for legal aid for you. your local citizens advice bureau can help too. also google and contact rights of women they have a legal helpline. also contact your MP as they can help you find the right people. if you are not entitled to legal aid try googling the pro bono unit, they are barristers who help for free in some cases also. x

also a tip before you speak to cafcass, write notes on why it is not in your childs best interests to have contact, (if thats what you want to happen), or if it needs to be supervised. I would also think about suggesting indirect contact as a option. they wont want to listen to the past between you and your ex, although the prison and drugs should be known about. Try telling it from your childs point of view and why contact is not in their emotional interests, and if there is any it should be very slow, indirect, and then progress to supervised etc. x

I did a telephone interview with CAFCASS..

I told her of the evidence I had of his MH issues.
I told her he had said he wanted to kill DS as well as himself. but also had documented evidence he had tired to kill him and myself so considered it very relevant.

I also told he had lied on court form..He had lied about no drugs , no danger, no alcohol issues. She said she knew this already as there had been previous contact centre.

She said there was a police caution for assault but not an issue..I asked how it was not an issue when DS was in my arms at the time..

by the end of the conversation she wanted him assessed before any contact..However he withdrew before court.