Does anyone know how much a residency/contact battle would cost?

[bratnav]

I know obviously money is not the most important thing, but I am trying to get some idea before we contact a solicitor, is it hundreds, thousands or more?

TIA for any replies

anyone?

It depends on how much it is contested. I don't know to be honest, it would vary between solicitors. I would say thousands though.

in the middle of one of these now - thousands.

Don't even attempt it unless you have money to cover this, or get legal aid and are reasonably (more than reasonably) sure of a win. It is misery all round. Children have to be involved with CAFCASS officer. You and ex dh have to be interviewed by CAFCASS, with and without the children. You will both need doctors and private psychiatric reports doing (expensive). You will need a family solicitor and a barrister for court days. Your life will no longer be your own. Ex dh launched one on me last November and nearly £10K later he has won nothing but does now have a reduced!!! amount of contact than he was getting before he started this process. He has spent lots of money for nothing. The final hearing is next month and although he is going for shared residency on principal now I am going for sole residency and a defined contact order. Why ? Because he has put us through hell and I'm being bloody minded. If he hadn't started this process I would have offered him shared - but he threw his toys out of his pram.

Think carefully, is there another way to amicably resolve this.

(sorry this has turned into a personal rant!)

Thanks slap, that's pretty much what I thought

DP really doesn't want to start this, but we are really struggling to find another way, in your opinion would mediation be any help?

I am currently into the end of my 3rd year of a contact battle.
we have seen caffcass, psychiatrists, therpaists, socail workers, contact centre's, had specialised reports written....the lot.

I am thankfully in receipt of legal aid, but whilst speaking with my sol the other week he said that if i were self funded my bill would be somewhere in the hundred thousands!!!!

admitedly my case is more complicated as there is DV and my son is ASD. but even so, it is an incredibly expensive and incredibly stressfull situation.

avoid at all cost. I would advise you to try mediation first if you can.

mediation is a good start point.

have you thought of self representation? courts can go a little easy on you if you self represent,but a mckenzie friend (google it)can be a godsend,and help you out with both confidence and the legal aspect.

Thanks for yor replies. DP has spoken to his exW again, pleading with her to see sense, that DSD is his DD too, apparently before the conversation this evening he 'should be grateful she allows him to spend time with DD'

The general gist of the conversations was, well how would you feel if I went for residency and you saw her for 2 days every 2 weeks, shocked silence then ranting from her about how she would hate him forever, how could he consider such a thing etc etc, followed by DP saying, but that is what you have done to me since we separated, perhaps think about that before you 'allow me' to see our DD.

Anyway it all seems to be sorted for now, she has agreed to be reasonable about access, and DP has scraped himself off the ceiling.