Help needed with writing the response to a CAFCAS report

[Wills]

Hi, My best friend is going through an awful divorce. She needs to respond to the CAFCAS report by tomorrow and wants my thoughts and input. Neither of us know what should be in the report and how it should be laid out. For instance should it be in "long hand" i.e. just to let the emotions run etc or should we bullet point the report under headings - is that too formal? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Anyone?

Hi, it depends on what the report says. If the conclusion on the last page reflects pretty much what your friend is looking for, there's no need to file a statement at all. At the directions hearing the district judge will have said that both parties may file statements, not that they have to.

If the conclusion is not in favour of your friend, then her statement should follow the format of the report so that it is easy to see exactly what she's referring to, eg "In paragraph 3(b) on page 4, the report states that I left the child unattended. In fact, she was being minded by my sister who was upstairs"etc etc. Don't do a long rambling diatribe, no one has time to read it and it will just be a massive turnoff. Use the same subject headings as the report to keep it very simple. I'm assuming your friend isn't represented as she's having to prepare the statement herself - usually it's the solicitors job to do this, with reference of course to the client.

Keep the report as short and to the point as possible. Your friend will be able to go into more detail when she gives evidence at the hearing.

Thanks for that. Most grateful.