ignoring court order

[julaz99]

my ex partner refuses to let me see my daughter,even though the courts issued an order for contact.He failed to turn up at the last court case and my daughter tells me by phone she wants to see me but he tells me different,the social services think she is being influenced by adults around her as she is very changeable towards me.
Can he get into trouble for ignoring the court order and what can happen to him if anything.
thankyou

[mycats]

How old is your daughter? I would get in touch with a soliciter straight away, he is in breach of a court order!

[Annlinda]

No need really to go to the expense of a solicitor if you have a contact order. Just go to the family court office, explain what is going on and they should arrange for you to put your case to the magistrates or judge. Just tell them that your ex is not conforming to the order. Keep dates and times when he should have let you see child and gather as much evidence as you can. In theory he can be sent to custody for failing to keep to a court order but it is a long road before that conclusion is reached. Social Services in this instance are not really being very helpful they should be doing their best to keep the child in contact with her absent parent.
Dont accept the situation go and start proceedings in the morning and insist that if he doesn't turn up in court he is summoned.

[julaz99]

hi mycats and annlinda,my daughter is 12 and has chosen to live with her father,although it breaks my heart i have to accept this,but we very much need to stay in contact with each other.we have been to and fro with courts and my ex partner promises to keep up contact but never sticks to it.

my calls are ignored for weeks at atime because he wants me to drop the court case,but i cant trust him to keep his word.

i do feel like social services are taking too long but this is the process we have to go through,i have been told.

i just felt like he has been getting away with this for over a year now and just wondered if he can be made to keep the contact up or not.

thankyou both so much.

the courts were very concerned to the lack of contact i was getting so there is another hearing in april,also my daughter will be interviewed again.

[Annlinda]

Good luck. Don't give up.

[FlowerPetal]

I agree Julaz, just dont give up - EVER!

Keep smiling ( if you can only manage it in front of him and your daughter) keep fighting and keep being the Mum your daughter needs you to be.

Good luck
Flower xx

[FlowerPetal]

P.S....if your daughter is 12, she has a right to see who she pleases. Can you not arrnage for your daughter to meet you somewhere very close to her house so that she is not in any danger from being lost and meet for a burger or a girlie shopping trip etc??

Just a suggestion hun, not always practical i know

Good luck
Flower xx

[julaz99]

thankyou annlinda i wont give up:)

thankyou flowerpetal,
that is sound advice and i will keep trying to see my girl,i miss our girlie days but it seems at the moment trips abroad and big pocket money are more enticing to my daughter sadly,i have a grown up daughter too who is 29 and she misses her badly but believes firmly we should never give up and thinks in time my youngest will see things differently and be able to make up her own mind.

we live in hope xx

[mycats]

I can only imagine how much it hurt for her to choose to live with him but good for you for not trying to force her to stay, good luck with everything, she's old enough now that she will find a way to see you x

[FlowerPetal]

Julaz
Your daughter will soon realise that love is not all about money - im not saying her dad doesnt love her, but one day soon ,when he isnt able to give her the money for something, and she has a teenage strop, it will make her realise that her dad's wallet and promises is not all is cracked up to be.

Contact your solicitor, and get this sorted - quick!
Good luck
Flower xx