Legal Question in Family Law in United Kingdom
Court Mediation
I recently seperated from my partner he sees our 3 year old daughter once every other week he is now asking to have her for a whole weekend I have told him I didn't think she was ready as she has never been apart from me. He has told me if I don't allow this he would take me to a court mediator who would allow this and would also make me sign a parental responsibility form. I have never stopped him from seeing her I just don't feel that she is ready as he is still living with his parents is this true. Please help I want to know what my rights are.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Court Mediation
When parents are unable to agree matters concerning their children between themselves, either parent with parental responsibility may apply to the court for the matter to be decided. The court will make a decision based upon what is in the child's best interest. Usually the question will first be referred to mediation in the hope that the parents can come to an agreement with the help of a trained mediator.
It would therefore seem that the father of your child will first need to obtain an order for parental responsibility from the court if you are not prepared yourself to agree that he should have parental responsibility. It will then be a case of deciding whether it is in your daughter's best interest to have staying with her father. Your views will weigh most heavily with the court in deciding this.
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Andrew Dutton www.legal-zone.co.uk