Contact Order and Cafcass - advice needed

No, it hasn't. I wanted it to but my solicitor said that "now wasn't the time to do it". The fact that he has a 15-year-old son whom he abandoned when the boy was 6 has also not been mentioned. The child lives aborad and it was exactly the same story: mother stopped contact, then father moved back to Wales. Hasn't been in touch since. He also never took the mother to court.
There only has been the Directions Hearing, nothing else.

And it was Magistrates.

What do you suggest I'd do now?

- attend Cafcass meetings and let the father see my daughter?
- present medical avidence?
- Psych. Report an idea? Who has to suggest it?

Will Cafcass take note of my daughter's medical conditions?

Thanks again.

Hi

I dont know why your sol is giving you that advice. You need this case sent up to the County Court - this is too complex for the mags. That evidence should be before the court at the earliest opportunity. This visit does not sound like something that it in her best interests.

My advice right now is take advantage of a couple of free half hours wit other sols, get an overview, change to one you like, and get this case shaken up - no one appears to be doing much for this child here.

Amanda

Will get onto it tomorrow. Thank you very much for your advice.

Have my first appt. with a different solicitor tomorrow.

I have a Legal Aid Certificate - can I just switch? What if I cannot find another solicitor to take on my case? There aren't that many up here who take on Legal Aid cases in the first place

Can I appleal against the order that was made at the Directions Hearing - as I was virtually bullied into accepting it (with an "or else" attitude from the opponents solicitor and NO HELP from my current solicitor) and do NOT agree with the fact that it says in the order that I "have to make my daughter available for Cafcass meetings between her and her father"?

Can I put my doubts across as to my daughter's father having lied to get granted Legal Aid? He has omitted the fact that he lives with a woman who works and owns the house. I don't think he should have been granted Legal Aid with an income of 23,000, or am I mistaken? Can you help?