Articles by Ash
If you can't afford the £232 court fee to submit a C100 application for Child Arrangements, there is a fee remission option, for those on benefits - so you don't have to pay the fee. It may be available for others on a very low income, even if not on benefits and if you're not entitled to the...
To make it easier to write to MP's, the charity mySociety/Write to Them, has an easy way of doing so. You just enter your post code, click on your MP's name. A letter format opens which you complete. Fill in your name, address and email details in the section below the letter and click...
If 50/50 Shared Care was legislated as being the legal state of affairs at the time of separation, there would be a lot less cases going through the family courts, a lot less children being stressed out and insecure, a lot less people going bankrupt. This doesn't mean it HAS to be 50/50 as in...
FAO Joanna Potts - Dispatches Editor
Dear Sirs and Ms Potts
We represent a collective group who were dismayed at the bias and lack of balanced reporting in the above programme.
There were no interviews with adult children who had been alienated (who need to be heard).
There were no...
Hopefully you and your ex will be amicable enough to try and make good arrangements for the children between you but it still helps to have a parenting agreeement or plan written down, to avoid arguments about various issues. It's surprising how many things you dont think of agreeing until you...
If you want to take your child on holiday, and your holiday weeks aren't court ordered, you need to book within the dates agreed with the ex. Make sure any agreement as to which the children spend school holidays with you, is agreed in writing - either text or email.
So you book your holiday...
There is no quick or easy answer to this. It is a subtle, behind closed doors type of abuse that happens to a child and hard to prove. You know when it's happening because of how your child starts to behave. They may still be allowed to come but are turned into a weapon of hatred. Or as in...
It seems very common that when a Dad applies to court for a Child Arrangements order, an ex will respond with false allegations of domestic abuse (or worse). This has become more common since legal aid was removed for family court applications. The only legal aid available for Family Court now...
There are various different orders you can apply for through the family courts. Initially Dads will be applying for a Child Arrangements order usually. To have time with their children and who they will live with resolved. It is best to apply for 50/50 shared care and be prepared to...
This is a big topic. When there are no court orders in place you and your ex are both technically equal in terms of who the children live with. However the parent who spends less time with the children (or none at all if contact is being prevented) is the one obliged to pay Child Maintenance...
Some Ex's can be quite hostile after divorce or use the kids as weapons or leverage out of anger or revenge. This can be the most extremely painful and stressful time. Don't wait or delay. Get an application to court as soon as you can. You'll have to try mediation first but it's not likely...
Mediation is a way of trying to reach agreement with your Ex over ongoing arrangements for the Children, with an impartial person there - the mediator - to try and help you both see what is best for the children and come to an arrangements. An agreement reached at mediation is not legally...
The ideal for separating and divorcing couples is that they put their children first and agree regular time with both parents. Unfortunately in many cases Dads struggle to get to see their children or have any reasonable or regular time with them, particularly during divorce when emotions run...
Post separation is a time when divorcing Dads really struggle. Maybe you're living in a tiny flat, not seeing your children and have financial worries. Maybe you still miss your Ex and hope for reconciliation. Maybe your Ex is seeing someone else and your children suddenly have a new man in...
Parenting courses are sometimes ordered by the courts, to help parents try to resolve issues in the best interests of the children, and hope it leads to agreement. SPIP courses (Separated Parents Information Programme) have been in place for a number of years, but have now been replaced with...