Fact Finding

[keeponkeepingon]

Morning All!,

For further background please see my previous post. Our next hearing has been ordered as a fact finding into multiple 'false' allegations raised by my ex. These are very serious allegations but also very untrue. I am now LIP because its costing me £545 a week to see my daughter for 3 x 2 hour visits. My ex has immediately breached the court order stating we pay half for visits. I have raised a C79. She has sited unaffordability and the level of costs being a surprise to her, They offered to pay half in the hearing and she had been using the very same service, so neither point holds water. If and how the court enforce the order, we shall see. For me to retain any faith in this process, they have to do something.

I believe I am capable of representing myself effectively but I want to give myself the best shot at getting it right. I don't think it would even be possible to achieve a worse result than my solicitor helped me with last time out so I am happy to give it my best crack!
On Wednesday of next week I will receive the statement of allegations from the opposing solicitor.
Does anyone have any experience or advice on representing yourself in fact finding hearings?

Many thanks for reading

K.O.K.O!

 

[childfirst]

Morning All!,

For further background please see my previous post. Our next hearing has been ordered as a fact finding into multiple 'false' allegations raised by my ex. These are very serious allegations but also very untrue. I am now LIP because its costing me £545 a week to see my daughter for 3 x 2 hour visits. My ex has immediately breached the court order stating we pay half for visits. I have raised a C79. She has sited unaffordability and the level of costs being a surprise to her, They offered to pay half in the hearing and she had been using the very same service, so neither point holds water. If and how the court enforce the order, we shall see. For me to retain any faith in this process, they have to do something.

I believe I am capable of representing myself effectively but I want to give myself the best shot at getting it right. I don't think it would even be possible to achieve a worse result than my solicitor helped me with last time out so I am happy to give it my best crack!
On Wednesday of next week I will receive the statement of allegations from the opposing solicitor.
Does anyone have any experience or advice on representing yourself in fact finding hearings?

Many thanks for reading

K.O.K.O!

I am going to follow this with interest. Many of us I am sure are within this process and this is an area I am having to learn rapidly.

 

[mva]

I was LIP in FF and lost. The main reason. Was not recognising that you need to highlight the evidence that’s relevant for the judge. I naively thought the judge would read the bundle and see inconsistencies in ex evidence. He simply didn’t and my exes barrister ran rings around me.

For example my ex contact the police numerous for absolute bollocks. I.e. complaining that I had kidnapped our kids because I asked her to collect one time. The Police had obviously NFA the call. However exes barrister just highlighted the number of times my ex “had to” call the police.

Also a lot depends on how the judge percieves you irrelevant of evidence. If you get tongue tied he could deam
You evasive etc

Because I’m 6ft 1 he even said I looked threatening

Tbh I was totally unprepared against expensive team of lawyers.

Prep and practice is the at forward

 

[Nanaforsonsjustice]

Morning All!,

For further background please see my previous post. Our next hearing has been ordered as a fact finding into multiple 'false' allegations raised by my ex. These are very serious allegations but also very untrue. I am now LIP because its costing me £545 a week to see my daughter for 3 x 2 hour visits. My ex has immediately breached the court order stating we pay half for visits. I have raised a C79. She has sited unaffordability and the level of costs being a surprise to her, They offered to pay half in the hearing and she had been using the very same service, so neither point holds water. If and how the court enforce the order, we shall see. For me to retain any faith in this process, they have to do something.

I believe I am capable of representing myself effectively but I want to give myself the best shot at getting it right. I don't think it would even be possible to achieve a worse result than my solicitor helped me with last time out so I am happy to give it my best crack!
On Wednesday of next week I will receive the statement of allegations from the opposing solicitor.
Does anyone have any experience or advice on representing yourself in fact finding hearings?

Many thanks for reading

K.O.K.O!

Hi, @DadLad represented himself in FFH and won.

 

[keeponkeepingon]

I was LIP in FF and lost. The main reason. Was not recognising that you need to highlight the evidence that’s relevant for the judge. I naively thought the judge would read the bundle and see inconsistencies in ex evidence. He simply didn’t and my exes barrister ran rings around me.

For example my ex contact the police numerous for absolute bollocks. I.e. complaining that I had kidnapped our kids because I asked her to collect one time. The Police had obviously NFA the call. However exes barrister just highlighted the number of times my ex “had to” call the police.

Also a lot depends on how the judge percieves you irrelevant of evidence. If you get tongue tied he could deam
You evasive etc

Because I’m 6ft 1 he even said I looked threatening

Tbh I was totally unprepared against expensive team of lawyers.

Prep and practice is the at forward

Hi, thank you. I am going to be focusing on being concise but thorough. I have some physical evidence to prove my ex has lied throughout the process to submit. I will see what she is saying on Wednesday and then build my case from there.

Thanks again for the advice

 

[Peanut 21]

Because I’m 6ft 1 he even said I looked threatening

Using your height against you!
You can't help your height but there's no law protecting tall people. Lol.Madness

 

[bujanin]

I am now LIP because its costing me £545 a week to see my daughter for 3 x 2 hour visits.

Solicitors, family centres, barristers, I wonder what value is put on this merry go round industry.

It could be to your advantage though. You've turned up to the family centre, paid the fees even as the mother reneged on the agreement struck in court. It'll be seen by the court even if you think that it passes them by.

Do you get notes from the family centre that will presumably reflect well on you: turned up on time, good times with the kids, no dramas etc.