Likelihood of 50/50 contact order

[AnxiousMummy93]

Advice needed please, does anyone have experience?

My ex has requested the following in court:

1. 50/50 contact
2. His name to added double-barrelled
3. To prevent me moving more than 30 minutes from his address

Our baby is 6 months old, breast-fed and he currently sees him twice a week for 2-3 hours in my home. I have suggested this be increased to include alone-time with Dad now that baby is a bit older and in somewhat of a routine. A few hours on a weekend/evening is what I suggested in addition to visits.

I think when baby is around 9 months he should be able to do a full afternoon per week in addition to a visit?

Ex isn't happy at all with the arrangements, and wants to take baby away 50% and demands I stop breastfeeding/pump (I can't I've tried) and says it's his right. I think it's just his 'control and ownership' over me and baby causing him to say this.

So...

What is the likelihood he would get 50/50 contact? Baby still wakes up during the night for feeds, and I feel like they need their mum for comfort at this age. Also, my huge worry is that my ex drinks a lot every night, I worry he wouldn't wake up for baby or put him to bed/feed him to a schedule because he gets distracted drinking. He says he wouldn't drink, but I think he would based on what I saw during the relationship.

What is the likelihood he would be able to prevent me moving in the future or get his name double-barrelled? I don't really want his name included, purely because I think the name is too long and he doesn't have anything to do with his family so the name doesn't mean much.

Advice needed please, particularly on court outcomes for 50/50 applications in babies or assessing influence of alcohol on his ability to care for baby.

Is he on the birth certificate?

He is not on the birth certificate, but he will get parental responsibility as part of the court order as I am not contesting parentage

Gather evidence. Texts etc.
Eg drinking -keep it light.

50/50 unlikely until the baby is not breast fed but then 50/50 is starting point.

Speak to a solicitor -you say he drinks -but he's not having the baby overnight. Would he be drinking if he didn't. Does he had an alcohol problem? convictions? has he made threats?

Likelihood of 50 50 very very small currently to age of child and you as primary carer. Overnights probay not until 1 then there may be an increase over a year or 2 to possible 50 50 as he will have have exact same parental responsibility as you.

Likely he will get double-barrelled name court ordered. Again he is as much a parent as you.

The prohibited steps order on moving will be dependent on the rationale and what the judge deems in the best interests of the child.

Keep as you have in your posts your arguments child centred. You want to facilitate contact but cannot do extended time currently due to breastfeeding etc and you will have a very strong position

Thanks both for your advice.

I would really rather avoid 50/50 just because I know the standard of care will be lower, but I guess that's his parental right to exercise. I also don't believe he is willing to co-parent and wants to parent separately which I think is really hard on the child when 50/50 leading two separate lives.

He has drank every night of our 10-year relationship, but no convictions that I know of. He's highly functioning but would choose drinking over other anything else (part of why I ended the relationship). How do I know baby will safe with him? I can't force him not to have a drink.

It's all a bit scary thinking about the future!

Thanks again

Make this clear to CAFCASS during the initial findings. Be factual and give any dates and details you can. It will again further support your case.

Then you have nothing.

If you want to move to move closer to family etc do it NOW!

Even then make sure you have given baby the name and surname you want.

At this stage of email your ex links to all the positives for breast feeding and states the who organisation says aged 2 and then you are not expressing and you are night feeding and as a result nights are not possible until baby is no longer breast fed etc