She Suddenly stopped contact

My solic has instructed her solicitors to reinstate contact by the end of the week otherwise a court order application will ensue.

I don't want to bum your trip, but even after the court order, that may say you have them every Saturday... if you were to call 'round, and she didn't open the door, or she'd gone out earlier... then sadly, there's not an official body in the country that will snatch the kids away from their mother.

It's sad that your wife is using the kids against you, and that she can't see it's not right for their welfare.

I'm always confused that mothers who care for their childrens welfare, should deny them their father. I lost my father after my parents divorce, when I was five, she's going to have a lot to answer for one day when they're older.

After my divorce (1999) I attended a 'family centre' to do a parenting course. It was just me (the only woman) and about 20 dads, all sat in a circle with their hands fullof court orders! (and still no access!)

"I don't want to bum your trip, but even after the court order, that may say you have them every Saturday... if you were to call 'round, and she didn't open the door, or she'd gone out earlier... then sadly, there's not an official body in the country that will snatch the kids away from their mother."

There's about 90% rate of compliance though and things are changing for the remaining 10%. In two recent court of appeal cases orders changing residency because mothers were flouting contact were upheld and senior judges issued a strong warning to divorced and separated mothers that they risk losing the right to have their children live with them if they defy court orders. Imprisonment has featured in over 180 cases in the last year or so too. Also Shared Residency Orders are increasing and the new Children (Contact) and Adoption Bill has a whole raft of measures including powers to order contact activities, financial compensation, facilitation and monitoring of contact compliance.

Nonetheless, courts will always be an unsatisfactory way of resolving matters because of their adversary nature.