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I need help and advice,
My friend is being taken to court and only has 11 days to prepare.
Back story, friend had a relationship with someone and had a child; since the child was 3 he moved across the country to be closer to his child and be involved.
the mother made it difficult at first, with contact centre visits, but when he struggled to pay the maintenance she stopped the contact centre and agreed to allow him unsupervised visits from aged 5.
The mother has always questioned what the father does, with everything being wrong, she provided lunch and got angry if the child didn't eat it, if the child had been given new clothes.
the father was frequently allowed to take his child 300miles back to his hometown,
But again new issues came up, the mother got more controlling restricting the time the had agreed,
The father organised mediation but the mother first refused, eventually they had mediation and the father was allowed more time and to pick up the child from school on selected days,
The mother then started fabricating reason why the child could not see the father including saying he has left the child where she could be at risk, she used this to restrict access until a formal order was agreed, so she paid for a company to to draft a contract stating that "after school if he child has after school clubs that they attend then they should attend regardless of who's day it is with the child" he agreed so he could see the child, then the mother booked after school clubs for the child to attend only on the days the father has the child, the mother then says he can not have the child as they are tired.
The father had a housing issue and was placed in temporary accommodation during all of this, he wasnt allowed to have his child there due to the building rules, this restricted what he could do with the child, the mother was aware of this.
The father has friends with children the same ages but after a single visit to each the mother would make accusations or reasons why the child was never allowed back to the friends houses,houses made it more difficult to have somewhere safe to occupy his child on days when the weather wasnt great.
On his days and after school he would spend as much time with the child making memories, he is a devoted father and trusted around others children.
He has slowly became depressed, struggled to keep a stable job because of all times days would change that he could see his child, he was moved a few times in temporary accommodation and has since been housed ,
The mother has bought a new house and didn't inform the father of the address, he has not had any involvement in the mother's new partner, but because he collected the child on one of his days and didn't tell the mother of his new property straight away she has took him to court and got a prevention order against him, he now can not see his child, the paperwork submitted to the court has incorrect information, it states the child is at risk as the mother thinks the child will not be returned.
The father has court on the 18th, he is not allowed to see his child, he is out of work, doesn't have money or savings for a solicitor, he has tried with CAB and they just said visit a local university or college as he isn't illegible for legal aid as there is no domestic violence, (the mother said there is, stating it happened once 6 years ago.)
He doesn't know where to turn or what to do, all he wants is time with his child, and not be controlled on what he can with the child or be limited on the distance he can go as his time is limited each time.
He doesnt want full custody, he would like to have a Christmas with the child, on e or twice a week, just pick up from after school, every other weekend.
I can post all the documents he has received but it will take some time to remove the personal information.
Please any help is appreciated, i think the only way is for him to represent himself and have his own mother to assist, i have offered but he just want genuine character references.
He wants to work and provide for his child, be able to have a safe place in his new accommodation for her to stay, he is worried because the mothers family has money and have taken it to court quickly to restrict all time with the child.
My friend is being taken to court and only has 11 days to prepare.
Back story, friend had a relationship with someone and had a child; since the child was 3 he moved across the country to be closer to his child and be involved.
the mother made it difficult at first, with contact centre visits, but when he struggled to pay the maintenance she stopped the contact centre and agreed to allow him unsupervised visits from aged 5.
The mother has always questioned what the father does, with everything being wrong, she provided lunch and got angry if the child didn't eat it, if the child had been given new clothes.
the father was frequently allowed to take his child 300miles back to his hometown,
But again new issues came up, the mother got more controlling restricting the time the had agreed,
The father organised mediation but the mother first refused, eventually they had mediation and the father was allowed more time and to pick up the child from school on selected days,
The mother then started fabricating reason why the child could not see the father including saying he has left the child where she could be at risk, she used this to restrict access until a formal order was agreed, so she paid for a company to to draft a contract stating that "after school if he child has after school clubs that they attend then they should attend regardless of who's day it is with the child" he agreed so he could see the child, then the mother booked after school clubs for the child to attend only on the days the father has the child, the mother then says he can not have the child as they are tired.
The father had a housing issue and was placed in temporary accommodation during all of this, he wasnt allowed to have his child there due to the building rules, this restricted what he could do with the child, the mother was aware of this.
The father has friends with children the same ages but after a single visit to each the mother would make accusations or reasons why the child was never allowed back to the friends houses,houses made it more difficult to have somewhere safe to occupy his child on days when the weather wasnt great.
On his days and after school he would spend as much time with the child making memories, he is a devoted father and trusted around others children.
He has slowly became depressed, struggled to keep a stable job because of all times days would change that he could see his child, he was moved a few times in temporary accommodation and has since been housed ,
The mother has bought a new house and didn't inform the father of the address, he has not had any involvement in the mother's new partner, but because he collected the child on one of his days and didn't tell the mother of his new property straight away she has took him to court and got a prevention order against him, he now can not see his child, the paperwork submitted to the court has incorrect information, it states the child is at risk as the mother thinks the child will not be returned.
The father has court on the 18th, he is not allowed to see his child, he is out of work, doesn't have money or savings for a solicitor, he has tried with CAB and they just said visit a local university or college as he isn't illegible for legal aid as there is no domestic violence, (the mother said there is, stating it happened once 6 years ago.)
He doesn't know where to turn or what to do, all he wants is time with his child, and not be controlled on what he can with the child or be limited on the distance he can go as his time is limited each time.
He doesnt want full custody, he would like to have a Christmas with the child, on e or twice a week, just pick up from after school, every other weekend.
I can post all the documents he has received but it will take some time to remove the personal information.
Please any help is appreciated, i think the only way is for him to represent himself and have his own mother to assist, i have offered but he just want genuine character references.
He wants to work and provide for his child, be able to have a safe place in his new accommodation for her to stay, he is worried because the mothers family has money and have taken it to court quickly to restrict all time with the child.
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