can I lose the kids?

If it''s unsafe you should leave immediately taking the children with you and stay with friends or family or seek refuge. Otherwise I wouldn''t leave until at least you have spoken to your solicitor about the implications of moving out and the possibility of non molestation and occupation orders. If you leave without the children a new status quo can be established and it may then be difficult and confusing to the children to disrupt their sense of security and established bonds again and change back.

Your solicitor is correct. It will be an uphill struggle for your husband to change the established arrangements for the children unless there is independent evidence from professionals working with the family (teachers, social works, health workers etc) that the children are suffering harm or are at risk of harm in your care and no measures can be put in place to ensure your parenting is "good enough."

If you have two properties and he could live in the other one then it might be better to stay put if it is safe to do so for a short time, and try to get a rapid non-molestation order saying he can''t come to the house. Women''s Aid should be able to help with that.

Statements of arrangements for the children are non-binding and once he can''t get at you it would be perfectly reasonable to state that you were intimidated into agreeing to shared care and that you don''t think it is in the interests of the children.

Best wishes,
Sadie

Thank you everyone.

The shouting at home has just calmed slightly but not entirely. I try not to speak to him and he wants some conversation. it is absolutely awful for the children but I don''t whave anywehre to go , and if I do, they still have to go to school, where he would turn up, I am sure. He is stil using a second property and is obviously advised to do ''stay'' at marital home.
i am waiting to see how the Petition is going to go. I am not drinking.

He wants to go back to mediation. I am not sure at all, since all I had from mediation is him delaying divorce petition for 4 months, and now when we need to talk about finance, it will get heated.

Is there an alternative and if I was making too many promises at mediation, would it be better to settle money somehow else ( provided he accepted my petition with children settled out of court- I will find out in 2 days)

Otherwise, I am trying to be as calm as possible and to spend all my time with kids. he is travelling at the moment and is almost never at home. Is the ure fact I have been with them full time for 11 years saying something in law? It would be extremely unfair if it didn''t give me some strength.

It will be a hard fight if you opt for child custody since you had a record, the thing you need to do now is to talk with a lawyer or try contacting a woman aid group since you have been physically abuse they can help you to get your children.

Divorce law attoneys in Austin Tx