Your Legal Rights as a Parent

Hello not sure if your still offering advice but i’ll send in anyway. Me and my sons father do not get on as he causes drama for me with his side of the family.I do understand after my sons birth we had an argument because i found out he was seeing another girl and we both have kids with him oddly enough our kids are 5 months apart from each other age wise. Even though i did not like the idea of this other woman i did encourage the fact our kids could meet get to know each other as they are blood. Which i thought this was the adult thing to do. Yet im always made out to be the bad person in this situation and have been pushed out of any thing .My babydad belittles me and makes me feel bad about myself. He does not see his son as often as he should but always uses the excuse that his always working. Which isn’t the case because his always out getting drunk, going to pubs, clubs and meeting girls. I have never stopped him or his family seeing them but when they talk down to me and do stuff to me its not nice for me to be around. I did have an injunction out against him because he assaulted me and smashed up my place. I always feel bad because i dont know what to do. Do i have no contact with them fully or what? There was a mention of going through court if he wanted to see his son but he had said on his side he will not do so and has said to me that ive won and that im poisoning our son against him. Hes never helped me financially and never supported me in any way but always says hes struggling but will go out& buy stuff. I just would like some advice as my son is my world i want to do whats best for him.

Hi me and my partner are currently fighting to get our son back from care he is 7 months old his childrens guardian is trying to get me and my partner and our son to go to a residential unit he is currently under an interim care order the guardian for our son is trying to say we aren't keeping him safe but the social worker is wanting us to have a transition plan can the guardian force us to go to the residential unit or can a judge force us to go to the unit what are our rights

Hi Smiler. I hope things are better now with your step son. Giving him what he wants won't help the situation, however giving him what he needs will. Be firm with him, and his Mum needs to be firm with him too. Be consistent, however always tell him that he is loved, however rebellious behaviour isn't loved or liked. He is a big brother and he needs to set a good example for his younger brothers and sisters. I don't know what your beliefs are, however I do know that GOD LOVES YOU ALL So So Much. Read some of the Bible each day. This will strengthen You and Your family. If you don't have a Bible, lots of Charity shops will have them in their book section. There is Power in Gods Word! Also the Holy Rosary is a Very Powerful Prayer and is for all of us to say, as the Hail Mary Focuses on The Annunciation (look up,if your not sure what this word means) . You can go into Any Catholic Church and buy some Rosary Beads. Or buy online if this is difficult. Can buy for £4.00 to £8.00. Or I can send you some Smiler. It is an easy Prayer to learn. And only takes 20 minutes to say each day. I promise you when you say these Prayers, with your Whole Heart,You will see things get better. God Bless You All. ??????

hi im a father of 6 lovely children 4 boys 2 girls from 4 differentmothers. i have my own house .i live alone but my children often sleep over.i love my chidren unconditional we have a bond.iv recently got myself involved in my partner argument whith her 15 year old son which is not mine.We have a 12 month old baby together boy.he lives whith my partner but im whith him everyday.3 days in my home and 3 days in my partners home.2 weeks ago i arived at my partner home.When i opend the front door i was confronted by an argument between my partner and her son.my partner was very emotional and upset as was our baby.My partner asked me to remove her 15 yearold son by asking him to leave the house.when i confront him he started becomeing abusive and started lashing out by kicking and punching me.as i defend myself i block him and used my side body to push him out frontdoor.eventualey things calmed down.1hour had past my partner phone was calling it was her son demanding to come back home.and iff not he was going to phone the police and tell them i assulte him .there after i had to go to police station were i was interview about it i was release without charge .my partner also gave a statment against her son.because of all this my baby has been put on child register under physical and emotional abuse.my partner under emotionaland me under physical .i feel as a father raseing 5 other children iv been treat ed unfairly .have social servicegot the right to do this to me whithout seficient evidence .

My x and I separated in 2017 we had a joint business he stole all the money close the business down. I reported him to the police for fraud and tax evasion. When I found out I had a nervous breakdown. He applied for pr and financial remedies from me. I cannot really afford anything I have 5 houses before we met. I live in the family home which is in his name. He began to manipulate the child all the authorities supported him saying the child wants to live him. Child has not seen a single member of his families or friend since the step father got the full custody. They step father Began to bring to child to places saying I wand beating the child. The schools reported stated that the head teacher spoke to the child on a daily basis and the child made no dosclosure of ever been smacked or any incidents up to 2 months before custody has been awarded. The court gave me no contact order what so ever since December 2018 I have not even had a letter from my son who was 8 at the time now 10. I asked for photo social services said the child does not wish to give me any photo of him now since august 2019. My son is a black child I have been locked out of my child live. There is no evidence of my son cultural need been met or his religious need we were active member of a church. Also no evidence of social interaction with friend my husband has my son under lock and key. Some day my emotion is so low I don’t even know what to do. I feel so lost I have no say in my child life at all. He step father has always punish me and he is continue to do so. If I go any where near his house he report me to the police for breaking restraining order. He injuries his self and won a restraining order. Not a single person believe me I have never tried to harm him or anyone else. I can’t even write down what is happening cause it’s so strange. I want my son to do drama classes because he uses to go to private schools but my x don’t want to pay the fee so he said my son don’t like that school and don’t want to go there my son was taken out of the school the judge in court order him to change to a state schools so now he has no familiar settings. People say I should keep going but often time I loose hope. I cannot protect my son. I feel I need to look after myself but I can’t even do that. I don’t take antidepressant anymore which is good but god now I wish there was something I could who. I just don’t know how. If anyone out there with any advise I would welcome it.

My x and I separated in 2017 we had a joint business he stole all the money close the business down. I reported him to the police for fraud and tax evasion. When I found out I had a nervous breakdown. He applied for pr and financial remedies from me. I cannot really afford anything I have 5 houses before we met. I live in the family home which is in his name. He began to manipulate the child all the authorities supported him saying the child wants to live him. Child has not seen a single member of his families or friend since the step father got the full custody. They step father Began to bring to child to places saying I wand beating the child. The schools reported stated that the head teacher spoke to the child on a daily basis and the child made no dosclosure of ever been smacked or any incidents up to 2 months before custody has been awarded. The court gave me no contact order what so ever since December 2018 I have not even had a letter from my son who was 8 at the time now 10. I asked for photo social services said the child does not wish to give me any photo of him now since august 2019. My son is a black child I have been locked out of my child live. There is no evidence of my son cultural need been met or his religious need we were active member of a church. Also no evidence of social interaction with friend my husband has my son under lock and key. Some day my emotion is so low I don’t even know what to do. I feel so lost I have no say in my child life at all. He step father has always punish me and he is continue to do so. If I go any where near his house he report me to the police for breaking restraining order. He injuries his self and won a restraining order. Not a single person believe me I have never tried to harm him or anyone else. I can’t even write down what is happening cause it’s so strange. I want my son to do drama classes because he uses to go to private schools but my x don’t want to pay the fee so he said my son don’t like that school and don’t want to go there my son was taken out of the school the judge in court order him to change to a state schools so now he has no familiar settings. People say I should keep going but often time I loose hope. I cannot protect my son. I feel I need to look after myself but I can’t even do that. I don’t take antidepressant anymore which is good but god now I wish there was something I could who. I just don’t know how. If anyone out there with any advise I would welcome it.

Hi My husband left the family home unannouncedI found wardrobe empty upon him.going to a night shift . He called the children following day and told them he had left because he didnt get on with me .He has regular phone contact with the children aged 16 and 12. There is no regular parenting plan he pays little maintenance and doesn't take the children for overnight stays .he takes them as and when.I have tried to arrange a plan for weekend and he has told me he doesn't do things governed by me . I am a nurse and I also need to work extra shifts but it proves difficult.He has no contribution to the joint finances including mortgage.The house is in joint names I am not eligible for legal aid or universal credit. The finances are extremely stressful and i have gone into financial difficulties. Any ideas on how to enforce he takes his childrenso I can work . He told my 16yr old he was filing for a divorce 6mths ago I havent heard anything

Can we change our granddaughters name as we have full parental responsibility for her through the courts. Her mother gave up coming to contact with her 6 months ago. She has been with us since 3 days old and she is now 6

My husband has a child with his ex who he has been heavily involved with. He has his daughter fortnightly which works fine. We both work full time and his ex is trying to impose that he has him during school holidays holiday/unpaid leave, when his ex only works part time 2 days. We feel this is unreasonable as she receives maintenance which she can use for nursery fees. We are also wanting to move towns so this will be incredibly difficult. Obviously he wants to see his child but it feels unreasonable to expect this when we both work full time trying to earn a living and support his daughter financially. Does anyone have any advice?

Hey. So me and my ex split up Christmas 2017, we have a daughter together, she's 2 and a half. When we were together, what I didn't know was that he was on drugs, I actually told him on our first date how much I hate drugs and would never e with someone who took them (all the while, he did do them and was addicted and I had no clue) it eventfully came out a month after our daughter was born, I kicked him out, his family got him help because he was so addicted, he was going to meetings, then he stopped going and said he didn't need them and had stopped, stupid me believed him.. anyway, when we split we came up with an arrangement between ourselves that he would have our daughter overnight Friday one week and overnight Saturday the next.. I then found out he'd been taking drugs again, I messaged his step mum (we get on really well) and she said his dad was going to drug test him st work, a few days later she messaged to let me know he'd passed it, so obviously I was happy. Turn out he'd taken somebody else's pee in a water balloon and that's the reason he passed. I later found out he was smoking weed at the back door whilst our daughter was in the living room (about 3 feet away), so the whole house was smelling of weed, he was then laying g on the sofa stones, with his headphones in whilst our daughter was crying asking for juice. I hadn't to stop him from seeing her on his own because I just don't trust him. He still sees her every weekend when she goes to his dad and step mums. In January, he messaged me and threatened me with social services because our daughter wasn't potty trained at the time and he didn't think it was right and then he said he was taking me to court.. he didn't none of those things. I then did t hear from him until last week about sorting arrangements again. Our daughter won't go near him, he never bonded with her when she was a baby, would rather be all over me, did no night feed and change do maybe 4 nappies in the 15 months of her life that we were together for! I know he won't stop the drugs, he enjoys them too much, as do all of his friends. He stopped paying child maintenance in January because he said he wouldn't pay until I let him have her as usual again, so I went through child maintenance, he lied about his wage to them. He made his first payment st the beginning of last month but hasn't bothered to pay this months that was due over a week ago. I don't know what to do.. I'm not the type of person that would keep a child from their father for no reason, but I'm worried for my child's safety when she's there. I shouldn't have to be up all night worried sick when she's saying at his house. He no longer wants to go to court, he'd rather make arrangements between us, because he knows how much of an idiot he's been. My question is, what can I do? Can I stop him from having her overnight? Like he could jst have her through the day and bring her home beforehand bedtime, I can't put my daughter in

Please can you provide advice. My son has a residence order and the mother has a contact order. Recently we have had concerns that the child is being emotionally abused by the mother and she has been put on a Child in need plan while concerns are investigated. Last week CSC informed my son he cannot allow the mother any unsupervised contact due to a professional providing advice which substantiated our concerns. The mother has asked that my son is not given details. Is this legal as how can my son safeguard his daughter if he doesn't know what to look for.

I have 3 older teenage daughters, who were living with me until the divorce and sharing of assets was finalised through the family court.My youngest who was 13 broke my heart when she came home one day after a weekend with her dad, told me she hated me and wanted to live with him.Since then she has only met me shopping, has told me she has been self harming, is seeing a counsellor and tried to take an overdose and ended up in a unit, which her dad failed to tell me about at the time.I was severely depressed, had been signed off work for a time and my relationship with her is awfully difficult for me and I imagine her. In the divorce settlement his pension would amount to over £1,000,000 of which I had a 34% share of which even the financial adviser I sought investment advice from had to get a 2nd opinion as she couldn't believe that he was planning to retire early and making plans for himself with it already. He had kept his earnings and pension from me all those years, which I felt such an idiot and I received 97% of the family home which we had to sell, so I could afford a place to live and a pension.I had been the parent who gave up work and childminded from home and took other jobs.He fought hard against me receiving anything but the courts decision was a departure from equality whatever grounds they had decided. However, despite the fact that he is on a high income of around £100,000, has a new wife with a high salary and rents a house with en suite bathrooms which he decided to buy to accommodate our daughters, he went through court to take £200 a month from me in child maintenance.I am in childcare employment and my monthly income is £850 a month, of which now I am living on £650.I am struggling to meet all my bills, but luckily have no rent or mortgage.I don't afford birthdays or xmases now.. I am searching for other employment but my self esteem is pretty flipping low and I am probably not coming across very well in interviews. Child maintenance people are awful to speak to and just lay on the law down the phone about anyone being able to apply and receive.Surely there must be something that would be based on his earnings and mine that would say I can't actually live properly on this arrangement, let alone have a relationship with any of my children. Do you have ANY advice or suggestions as to what I can do without being made to feel like some soul destroying non-supportive parent who doesn't mind about the money side of my children having things, but it doesn't seem right I can't have a proper, caring mum/daughter relationship without the vindictiveness of her dad.This is the reason he is doing it to me, is because he resented that I was entitled to what I received in court.He wanted his million and for me to receive nothing, and he obviously finds this empowering to him.

Further to my last comment my daughter has taken this court and caffcass said in the initial interview that the social services will have to give a reason why they took my grandson off his mother. We went to the first court meeting and true to form caffcass say the case will be left with the social services and caffcass will not be involved. My granddaughters paternal grandfather hurt her and it was reported to the police and guess what social services do not think that this is a section 37 matter. On the 16th November I rang my GP to see if my granddaughters medication had been picked up because she was still no better ,no energy ,low moods and always asleep to be told that her prescription for the 10th October was still sat in the surgery. My daughter reported this to the social worker her reply was ITS NOT MY JOB TO MAKE SURE THET ARE GIVING HER THE MEDICATION. On the 19th November I was in the dentist the same dentist as my granddaughters uses my daughter text her ex to remind him he needed to take there daughter to the dentist later that day he said OK. While we were stood at the reception the grandmother rang and cancelled the appointment her excuse was she did not want to go with her mother SHE WAS NOT GOING WITH HER MOTHER HER FATHER WAS TAKING HER. Reported this to social worker her reply was its not place to make sure she goes to dentist my granddaughters teeth are in a mess and still she has not seen a dentist. I made a formal complaint and pointed out this was neglect and abuse and guess what happened they completely ignored me . Caffcass told me to chase this complaint up and they completely ignored me again so I rang and they put the phone down on me. In a core meeting they were going to vote to degrade my granddaughters to a child in need when I brought up these serious allegations and they all decided to keep her on the protection order which now they deny happened which I have in black and white. The chair of the meeting said there needed to be a section 37 but the social worker will not authorise it. This social worker sat in my daughters house and admitted that the children's father and grandmother were abusing the children and that is why it was good we had brought it to court. They took my grandson for no reason and still to this day no one can tell us why so don't anyone tell me there is more to it that this Rotherham Social services are corrupt.

My little boy is 3years old, I left his farther when he was 3 months old. He has always been able to see my little boy whenever her likes. Once a week or three times a week whatever suits him. Last weekend he has decided he wanted to go to court and see my little boy through court. It makes no sense to me why he would want to drag us to court when he is able to see my little boy.I’m wonderig where do I start because I know the farther won’t ring and won’t start anything.

I am now divorced with 3 lovely boys. I pay well over the minimum maintenance required by law And make sure they dont go without. However my ex wife has now decided that the boys will not be coming with their overnight bag of clothes to wear(every other weekend) as she thinks i should have a wardrobe each for them at my house. Surely this is wrong. Any advice please.

Hi my 8 year old daughter goes to see her dad once a fortnight she only goes sat dinner to Sunday afternoon! She used to go longer but would ring me up crying wanting to come home! This is getting worse she went this weekend and only lasted a couple of hours this weekend was first time in about 8 weeks she had been! My ex is depressed and not coping well according to his mum and he always shouts at my daughter which she doesn’t like and he knows this! I don’t feel that he is stable which is concerning to me and my daughter doesn’t want to go she keeps saying is it right In keeping her away and not have contact can I do this by law ? I feel like I have to safeguard her

Hi i need some advice.My sister in law had had a bad relationship with her ex but has never stopped her 8year old daughter seeing him. H9w ever he has never really bothered and when he does her daughter said he always shouts and makes her look after her little brother from another relationship of his.My sister in law found out he deals drive and yes tried to take his own life.She has tried everything but he even tried to force feed his daughter and now she doesn't want to go there.He hasn't bothered for many months and decided to go through courts.They had only one mediation.Can her daughter's say be enough.Her daughter has epilepsy and the thought of seeing her dad is stressing her out and making her have seizures.Thabks

My brother is having a baby due end of this month but his girlfriend has left him she is shycotic (hereditary) was on medication for it before she fell pregnant also sees someone for it so it a medical condition but she had turned round and told him he's not seeing the baby but he's also not allowed to do anything or she goes off on one but then the next thing she's saying there's a chance they could sort things out then changing her mind again she's also saying he won't get his name on the birth certificate and the baby won't have his surname, is there anything he can do?

You say social services don't take children off a parent without good reason I am telling that is exactly what they have done baring in mind this is Rotherham social services who allowed 1500 children to be raped . I have sought legal advice and the law is on our side because this whole mess has been influenced by a higher power mates doing mates favours.

My comment is true there is no more to it than what I am telling you. The grandmother has not been diagnosed as a sociopath but shows all the signs. The children have been told by her if they go to live with there mum she is going to give all there belongings to there cousin which has turned them against thete cousin.She refused to let my daughter take her to the doctors when she was clearly ill and the grandfather said she had been ill for sometime and they did nothing.My grandaughter has said she sometimes sleeps in her clothes her teeth are green and she allows her to have a dummy at 12 . The children are not allowed out of the house when they come home from school. She was seen taking mail out of my daughters mail box at the time we thought it was for her son but turned out to be 3 mediation appointments. She put an app on my grandaughter phone to intercept my daughters messages to her daughters. My grandaughter would not show her grandmother a pot she had made saying her nan would smash it. She told my grandson if he did not go across to his mother's she would buy him Fortnite credit. My daughters tyres have been slashed so she cannot take them to school. My daughters TV arial has been cut do theres no TV for the kids. The kids have both said the SW is lying about what they have said. They said both kids were withdrawn there GP has spoken to SW and told her my grandson is not withdrawn that he is a happy healthy little boy but my grandaughter clearly is. SW know all this and yet no one has acted on this. My grandchildren are allowed to live with there mum now as the evidence has been proven wrong. So who is pulling the Strings of the social services and this is only a small portion of what they have done there are far worse incidents.

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As in all cases, the court’s main concern is the welfare of the child in question. The court will always put the child’s best interests first and this main issue will determine the outcome of any application for an order. We cannot predict what a court will decide, but your daughter will be asked her opinion at age 11.

My ex husband had since Sept 2017 room to have our daughter overnight which he never asked for. We are moving away to which ex husband gave his consent for. A contact schedule has been put into place at mediation which he also agreed to. We are now moving within the next few days and just got a letter from his solicitor saying that ex expect our daughter to stay with overnight in about 6 weeks time. That is a letter i got 3 days after our daughter ( 11 1/2) told him that she doesn't want to stay overnight at his.. she is now getting upset thinking that when she sees him next he won't bring her back... I do get i can't force her and neither can he.. I guess the only options would be for him to go to court. I accept and so is our daughter that over night will happen at some point but she doesn't feel ready for it yet with a new home new school to get use to.. Is there anything I can do to help our daughter? If goung to court what likely the outcome could be ? Would she be listen to? We have been separated 2 1/2 years. In that time he never asked for overnight and he choose to see our daughter 8 hrs a weeks..

Hi. My child’s father is withholding his passport from me unless I pay a specified amount. We have a court order I. Place which states it is to be shared but he’s refusing to give it to me unless I pay. He’s stopped paying child maintenance and what worries me if I pay I could be in the same position for the next 5 years. Is there another way to get it without going to court. I am emotionally drained from my ex husband he loves all the drama. Thank you

On 31st July 2018 2 social service workers visited me at my partners home after a home check advised my 2 son's age 4 and 7 were to remain with me as there mothers home was unfit for them to return to after I had supplied them with photographic evidence the week before.on 3rd August I took out a emergency residence order which was granted and my ex got to see the boys at her father x3 days a week for 6 hrs. Social services then kept assuring me that boys were happy and content living with me and when before the residence order was in place seen 1st hand both my son's reactions when suggested they were to stay at my ex's father's with her which has inadequatespace for 3 extra people to stay, was brushed aside and at court on 20th August 2018 social services with there new manager who is only 5 days in her role as manager and doesn't know the case thinks it's right to state to the court that both kids should return to my ex's home when they still have concerns reference her mental health also that the house can return to condition it was which caused them to place both kids with me . I strongly believe there is discrimination in social services behalf as they have not assessed me at length but are willing to put my kids at risk they gave my ex 3 weeks to get her home in a acceptable condition . When they done home visits they were quick enough to bring up any concerns she made but not willing to listen to my concerns ie my ex's new partners drug habits delaying having a police check completed on him. any advise on this matter would be greatly appreciated

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Unfortunately, I cannot answer your question as there must be more to this matter than what you say. Social services only remove children from the resident-parent if there is good reason or a serious incident has taken place. Has the grandmother been diagnosed as a sociopath by her GP? If so, it is unlikely social services would put children in someone's care with this diagnosis. Your daughter would have to seek professional legal advice in order to explore her options. The Citizens Advice Bureau should be able to help with direct advice and guidance.

My daughter is involved with social services her two children have been given to the grandmother who is a sociopath . The case against my daughter is fabricated and under an investigation my daughters ex has family who are high up in the council services and are influencing the situation. My daughter lives directly across from her ex mother and her situation is unbearable. No one has given us an explanation as to why the children were sent there we had just come back from a 4 day holiday. My granddaughter has lived most of the time at her grandmothers because she only lives across the road . My daughter has not signed nothing to allow her children to live there and there is no court order. The children's father no longer lives there he has moved out to be with his girlfriend . My daughter may have got another house does she have the right to take both her children to live in the new house which is not far away from school the children go to.

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Unfortunately, your only option is to try to solve the matter between you, use mediation or apply to court as there is no specific rule stating your ex has to give you this information. If he has parental responsibility of yours/his child then it is deemd he will accordingly act responsibly and take care of your child.

My son fatherrefuses to tell me when and with who he takes my son too . He only has him once a week and that one day he has him he refuses to communicate my sons where abouts. What are my rights in this situation.Please help

After advise my two kids live with me the father have done for three years.they see there mum twice a week and stop over on her days off.we have a court day so we can have it in writing it will be two nights a week but in September three nights when she has arrived going to reduce hours.my solicitor has drawn up an agreement for court too which she has agreed before court.now saying wants three this week here and there and as there is no court order yet she can.what do I do as no structure

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In a situation such as this, if you cannot agree then mediation is the next option to consider in order to come to a regular and consistent agreement.