Any advice/info for my BIL? (possible custody battle / what he's entitled to as single parent)

[looneytune]

Some of you may possibly have seen my thread about my silly sister leaving her dh and kids.

Well, I've advised my sister to leave the children with their dad rather than move them to a whole new area where they know nothing and nobody. I'm hoping that she has now changed her mind about fighting for custody but IF she tries to persue it, has anyone got any advice or anything for my BIL? Will the courts go against him because he'd be working and using a childminder (probably) after school? Is there anything he can do to make things look better for him? Would the fact that the WHOLE of my family (my sisters obviously) are on the fathers side help?

Also, ANY info about what single working parents are entitled to would be great.

The children are 8 and 5.

That's it really, many thanks

WTC and CTC if he is working.
Extra child benefit, I know its not much.
Tell him to phone the benefits agency, they are really helpful.

Depending on his income, he may be entitled to Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. If he gets WTC, he may also get some help towards childcare costs. He should get the child benefit paid directly to himself rather than to your sister.

He should contact the council and claim the 25% discount on council tax for a lone adult in the house.

Does your BIl live near you and your family? If so, the fact that extended family is nearby and can help out with childcare, etc., would go in his favour. The longer the children are in his sole care, the better chance he has in keeping them.

I think there is less of the automatically-give-residency-to-the-mother attitude in the courts these days, although they do still lean heavily in that direction.

Thanks, will pass on everything I get on here!

Freckle - I live about 15 mins drive away and so does my brother (although he's about to move). Our parents live 4 hours away now but where my sister is planning to move to, there is NO family or friends at all.

Would the fact my sister cut her wrist and then went to hospital to stitch it go against her? And also the fact she should have been back to do certain school runs but was still in bed 2 hours away?

I feel bad for going behind my sisters back like this but my priority at the moment is my neice and nephew! Unfortunately BIL has no family nearby either but he has lots of friends helping out with childcare at the moment as it's just happened recently.

Get BIL to keep a contemporaneous diary of her failure to turn up, etc. This is always useful in a battle. The fact that you are around to provide continuity/additional childcare is also a good point in his favour.

What is your sister's living situation? Own home? Living with new partner? What accommodation could she provide for herself and the children?

Do you think that the fact I'm also a childminder might help??? I could end up being their childminder?!

Will tell my BIL to keep record of everything!

My sister's living arrangements etc etc - no job, no car, living with new boyfriends parents! Told me trying to find job, place to live etc. but she still confused about whether or not to move back to the area. Basically, she's chosen to live far away because she doesn't want to be without new boyfriend! What about the kids FFS!!!

Sorry, still can't believe all the crap that's happened!

Just in case anyone has read the previous thread and think I'm a total cow for not supporting my sister, please see my comments on this thread and you will see that's not the case.

Thanks