My interests as a writer lay with script-writing. For my degree, I’m writing an essay on Syd Field’s book, The Foundation of Screenwriting – a bible for anyone writing scripts! Re-reading the book got me thinking about how Syd’s advice, inadvertently, helped me to write my own statement for family court. This post depends largely […]
Parental Alienation – A Warning for Mothers
If you’ve had a hostile break-up then you’ll know how hard it is to control your emotions. Anger, hurt, resentment, fear, betrayal are but a few of the feelings that come in waves threatening to drown you. In these situations it can be easy to alienate your child against their other parent without realising it: […]
3 Things to Remember when dealing with your ex’s Solicitor
I used to think that my ex’s solicitor was a heartless cow. Her constant letters annoyed and upset me because I didn’t feel qualified to produce a proper response. To me, solicitors hold that air of authority because they know the law and understand how to use it. I felt powerless to her and her […]
5 Steps to Statement Success – Writing your Statement for Family Court
Family court is especially stressful for a mother who has to balance her emotions with caring for her children. Speaking coherently and convincingly during this time is going to be difficult for even the strongest among us. When your voice fails, writing is the easiest way to articulate your argument. Writing also provides a direct line […]
Persuading with Proof makes a Convincing Case
One of the main differences between family and criminal proceedings is the way that decisions are made. For criminal court, everything relies on evidence and cases have been lost due to lack of it. At family court, the magistrates are convinced on the ‘likelihood’ of one case being truer than the other. This means that […]
Parental Responsibility – not as scary as it sounds
What is Parental Responsibility? If your child was born after 1st December 2003, you weren’t married to your ex and he’s not on the birth certificate, he can apply to the court for Parental Responsibility. Legally defined parental responsibility (PR) means, “all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of […]
Emotion & Reason – 5 Steps to Creating a Balanced Argument
To give yourself the best chance of success in family court you have to handle your feelings. Solicitors are effective because they have no emotional ties to the people they represent. This is not the case for you, and it certainly wasn’t the case for me. I found controlling my emotions to be the hardest […]
CAFCASS – What every Litigant Mother needs to know
CAFCASS are involved in your case from the beginning. As a Litigant it is important to know who CAFCASS are, what role they play and how they can affect your case. Who are they? CAFCASS – the Children and Families Court Advisory and Support Service, is responsible for advising the magistrates on what is in the […]
Family Court: Prepare and Organize Your Case
The prospect of handling your own case without the services of a solicitor is daunting for anyone. While it’s tempting to bury your head in the sand, ignoring the court is the easiest way to ensure that your ex gets exactly what he is asking the court for. Don’t panic! Fairness is important in family […]