Hello Dads,
I had the Final Hearing to Vary our existing Child Arrangements Order yesterday and the outcome was great!
Tuesday teatimes now to become overnights (so will be a 9/5 split fortnight with Ex)!!
Surname to stay the same!!!
SHARED LIVES WITH ORDER!!!!
It's been a slog to get here (see journey below) but I feel so pleased with the outcome, not least because it vindicates me of all the lies and allegations made by Ex of domestic violence..
Brief overview;
2022, May - Ex and I split because I refused to have another child (our daughter was 2.5yrs old at the time and Ex and I both in our late 40's)
2022, July - I applied for a CAO as Ex would not agree to any overnights. She then started the false allegations of Domestic Violence
2023, March - Court awarded me Tuesday teatimes (3-7pm), every other weekend (Fri PM-Mon AM) and half "school" holidays
2023, November - With the exception of a few teatimes 'cancelled' due to illness, Ex had complied with order but had secretly instigated a Social Services Assesment
2024, January - I am completely exonerated in the findings of the SS Assessment
2024, May - I apply to Vary our existing CAO, asking for 50/50 but with the expectation it'll be whittled down to (hopefully) just get my Tues teatimes turned into overnights
2024, May - Ex cross applies with an SIO to have our daughter's surname double barrelled (at the moment it's just mine). We were never married
2024, September - at the First Directions hearing I offer Ex up the surname in exchange for the midweek overnight, she declines
2024, October - my Ex claims our daughter is a victim of DV by way of being present in an abusive relationship (all false)
Godspeed to any Dads out there in the process! I'm a LiP and had some great advice on this forum, and so was able to save my money to pay for a barrister to represent me at the hearings themselves - and this seems to paid off.. TWICE!
I had the Final Hearing to Vary our existing Child Arrangements Order yesterday and the outcome was great!
Tuesday teatimes now to become overnights (so will be a 9/5 split fortnight with Ex)!!
Surname to stay the same!!!
SHARED LIVES WITH ORDER!!!!
It's been a slog to get here (see journey below) but I feel so pleased with the outcome, not least because it vindicates me of all the lies and allegations made by Ex of domestic violence..
Brief overview;
2022, May - Ex and I split because I refused to have another child (our daughter was 2.5yrs old at the time and Ex and I both in our late 40's)
2022, July - I applied for a CAO as Ex would not agree to any overnights. She then started the false allegations of Domestic Violence
2023, March - Court awarded me Tuesday teatimes (3-7pm), every other weekend (Fri PM-Mon AM) and half "school" holidays
2023, November - With the exception of a few teatimes 'cancelled' due to illness, Ex had complied with order but had secretly instigated a Social Services Assesment
2024, January - I am completely exonerated in the findings of the SS Assessment
2024, May - I apply to Vary our existing CAO, asking for 50/50 but with the expectation it'll be whittled down to (hopefully) just get my Tues teatimes turned into overnights
2024, May - Ex cross applies with an SIO to have our daughter's surname double barrelled (at the moment it's just mine). We were never married
2024, September - at the First Directions hearing I offer Ex up the surname in exchange for the midweek overnight, she declines
2024, October - my Ex claims our daughter is a victim of DV by way of being present in an abusive relationship (all false)
Godspeed to any Dads out there in the process! I'm a LiP and had some great advice on this forum, and so was able to save my money to pay for a barrister to represent me at the hearings themselves - and this seems to paid off.. TWICE!
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I just removed a line at the end of your post as it was out of date 
As in you've already had the final hearing. Jumper, I think in this case the court could see that ex was likely to drop his surname if it became double barrelled - so that probably helped his case. I admit I was surprised as I thought they'd order both surnames for the child.