Changes to a contact order....

[midlandred]

My wife and I went through the courts in Nov 12 with reference to her daughter/my step daughter, and the respondent father.

After a long drawn out affair, contact was agreed for him every other weekend from after school Friday to 4pm Sunday. He would also get an over night stay every other Wednesday, with an option to see her for 3 hours on the alternate Wednesday if he let us know by the proceeding Monday. (since Nov he hasn't used the latter option). All travel involved with his contact was agreed to be done by him. Also there was a residency order placed on both sides to be fair.

We have since received correspondence via his solicitor that he now wants to amend the CO......

- He wants to change his mid week contact to a Thursday

- He wants to share the travelling arrangements 50 / 50.

Given that this was all only agreed in Nov 12 where do we stand?

Since Nov 12 we have organised our child's after school activities to fit in with the current agreement along with our work arrangements. Thus the suggested Thursday he now wants, for no particular reason as far as we can see, would be a nightmare for us.

Also we feel with regards to the travelling that we spend every day of lives around the child with regards to transporting and catering for her every need. We don't feel as though we should be responsible for transportation in relation to his contact, given he agreed to this only in November last year. (if it helps he lives approx 18 miles away)

At this point we haven't instructed our solicitor, however the letter from his suggests that these requests would simply be ok'd by the judge if it were to return to court?

Any pointers or suggestions would be gratefully received on how likely a CO would be changed given the above if he decided to take us back to court.

[leclerc]

Re: Changes to a contact order....

Are any of the clubs running on a Thursday?

Is there financial issues in relation to the issue of 50/50 transportation?

Ignore what his solicitor says because you have to look into the above first to see whether it is possible because circumstances can change. If there is an issue 6 months further down the line then it is worth looking at this as an issue about the child.

How old is the child? remember it is about the interests of the children that is paramount. The 50/50 thing seems reasonable as it stands.

[SickotheCSA]

Re: Changes to a contact order....

At the end of the day, you are not obliged to agree to anything that had not been previously agreed.

What I would suggest is that you outline your reasons for rejecting any new proposals, it is then up to him if he wants to take the matter back before the courts, and any rejection will need to be seen as reasonable.

[Inca]

Re: Changes to a contact order....

Hi..can I ask..the 18 miles.......did you move or did he?