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Parenting

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Can I fight a court order?

66 replies

Mama1026 · 02/05/2025 20:09

Hi all, I’ve been given a court order for my child to see the father every other weekend for 4 hours. We are an hour away and it’s a very long time for me to keep my other children occupied for that long. He lives in the same time but refused to go to the one in our town as it’s for 2 hours not 4.
is there anything I can do?????? I’m not stopping the relationship but this is very excessive for me as I work and have other children to think of where as he is not co promising - there is no chance of 3rd parties as he is not allowed near my home

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 02/05/2025 20:13

Why do you have to do all the traveling?

Soontobe60 · 02/05/2025 20:14

Arrange to meet him half way.

Dairymilkisminging · 02/05/2025 20:15

Is there anyway you take child there and he brings child back? That would be the fairest

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TURNYOURCAPSLOCKOFF · 02/05/2025 20:15

He can travel to child, surely?

Mama1026 · 02/05/2025 20:19

He lives in the same town as we do! But they only have 2 hour contact not 4. He isn’t willing to take the 2 hour loss. I cannot go near him due to the abuse.

OP posts:
Dairymilkisminging · 03/05/2025 05:53

Can the contact centre near you do drop offs so you don't have to be in contact with him?

Mama1026 · 03/05/2025 08:55

They only facilitate 2 hours and the order is for 4

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 03/05/2025 08:56

Can you get the order changed?

Mama1026 · 03/05/2025 08:57

I’ve sent an email to the court but the case is closed. It’s such a long on going thing. It’s awful!

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 03/05/2025 09:02

Mama1026 · 03/05/2025 08:57

I’ve sent an email to the court but the case is closed. It’s such a long on going thing. It’s awful!

Does the court order say that you have to do all the traveling?

MyOliveHelper · 03/05/2025 09:06

I think that when you have kids, you have to fully tally up all the effort they really take. So not only do you have to feed, clothes and ferry them around, but you also have to support their wider relationships with friends and family. If you feel too pushed for time to support one child in seeing their extended network because it's a different network than that of your other kids, that's pretty much a consequence of having at least two different co-parents.

The courts have decided that this parent and child need to have at least 4hrs of contact time in whatever period.

It kind of sounds like you've bitten off more than you can chew.

Mama1026 · 03/05/2025 09:08

It just says “should be prepared to use various and alternative venues to ensure it happens”. It also says to use a centre as close to 4 hours as possible.

OP posts:
oviraptor21 · 03/05/2025 09:08

How old is your child?

oviraptor21 · 03/05/2025 09:09

So it doesn't stipulate which centre?

oviraptor21 · 03/05/2025 09:09

Difficult to comment without seeing the exact wording. Did you have support from a solicitor or DA organisation? Can they help you with interpretation?

Mama1026 · 03/05/2025 09:10

MyOliveHelper · 03/05/2025 09:06

I think that when you have kids, you have to fully tally up all the effort they really take. So not only do you have to feed, clothes and ferry them around, but you also have to support their wider relationships with friends and family. If you feel too pushed for time to support one child in seeing their extended network because it's a different network than that of your other kids, that's pretty much a consequence of having at least two different co-parents.

The courts have decided that this parent and child need to have at least 4hrs of contact time in whatever period.

It kind of sounds like you've bitten off more than you can chew.

How have I bitten off more than I can chew? Both children are his but there is no order for one to see him because of the abuse received from the father.

OP posts:
Mama1026 · 03/05/2025 09:12

oviraptor21 · 03/05/2025 09:09

So it doesn't stipulate which centre?

No it doesn’t. Just close to 4 as possible. But I said on court I needed it to be in our town as I’ve done this for a year already.

OP posts:
oviraptor21 · 03/05/2025 09:12

Is there a leisure centre in the contact centre town. Could take the other kids swimming and for lunch in the four hours. Or similar.

MyOliveHelper · 03/05/2025 09:13

Mama1026 · 03/05/2025 09:10

How have I bitten off more than I can chew? Both children are his but there is no order for one to see him because of the abuse received from the father.

The courts have mandated 4hrs of contact time for your child and his father. The priority should be to ensure they get that.

Mama1026 · 03/05/2025 09:14

oviraptor21 · 03/05/2025 09:12

Is there a leisure centre in the contact centre town. Could take the other kids swimming and for lunch in the four hours. Or similar.

There is however this is every other weekend for a year! 2 hours travel and 4 idle hours.

OP posts:
Mama1026 · 03/05/2025 09:15

MyOliveHelper · 03/05/2025 09:13

The courts have mandated 4hrs of contact time for your child and his father. The priority should be to ensure they get that.

I wasn’t asking for you to tell me what to do, my post is asking if I can fight a court order. I hope you have the day you deserve. Goodbye.

OP posts:
oviraptor21 · 03/05/2025 09:17

I agree it's far from ideal especially in the circumstances you describe.
Also thinking about when/if the other DC has weekend activities, how you would facilitate that. Seems that everyone is bending over backwards to appease an abusive father.

At some point you can look at applying to vary the court order but would need a change of circumstances for that to happen.

Bonster37 · 03/05/2025 09:17

I see your problem. This is a supervised contact centre so he cannot do any of the collections/drop offs. Could you contact your solicitor and say you cannot facilitate due to distance and other responsibilities, maybe suggest 2hrs every week and then he still gets his 4hrs a fortnight?

LegallyLoopy · 03/05/2025 09:18

If you want to change a court order, you would need to make a new application to court which would start a whole new case.

How long has it been since the last case concluded?

Mama1026 · 03/05/2025 09:19

oviraptor21 · 03/05/2025 09:17

I agree it's far from ideal especially in the circumstances you describe.
Also thinking about when/if the other DC has weekend activities, how you would facilitate that. Seems that everyone is bending over backwards to appease an abusive father.

At some point you can look at applying to vary the court order but would need a change of circumstances for that to happen.

Thank you for your words. I am not against my child seeing the father as it’s their decision to make (I know it will go the same way as the sibling when they’re older and refuse) but this is too much and there is no compromise from him! He doesn’t care about the other child as they have refused to see him. Very sad.

OP posts: