Should I tell new employer about family court proceedings?

[Pebbledashery]

Hi all. Further to my other threads about my new job.. I don't know whether I should mention family court proceedings to my new employer as its likely I may need a day of annual leave in the first 3 months.. I am starting my new employment after our 2 day listed fact finding hearing but it's likely we'll have a section 7 ordered which will involve speaking to cafcass and then a welfare hearing and final hearing.. They will be spaced out accordingly.. Is it worth mentioning when I start?..

I think it hugely depends on the nature of your work and employer, personally I wouldn't need to say anything because in my line of work it's 99% likely to be absolutely fine to take a day or two's leave whenever I want, even at short notice, without really having to give a reason, or at most a vague 'personal reason' or 'important appointment' would do. But obviously if your's in the kind of job where rotas are fixed months in advance and it'll be an enormous palaver getting the time off then you'll have to say something. Either way personally I would avoid over-sharing, not because it's shameful or anything but most people don't really understand all the ins and outs of Cafcass etc and why you can't just move things around at will, or just get confused - I would probably at the most say 'I am going through some legal proceedings with my children's Dad/Mum, I may need to request some annual leave at short notice, I will keep you fully informed' or similar?

I don’t think there is any reason you should say what it is for, unless you want to of course. But yes, I would mention that I need a day off as soon as you know when.