Clueless newbie, court on Friday 17th April!

Help! stumbled across this site, was looking for info on what happens at a directions hearing. My ex partner is taking me to court for contact on Friday. We have never lived together because he would never get a job that paid well enough to support us. I live in a council flat and he used to bully me to let him move in. I ended the relationship before I found out I was pregnant with our first child as he was aggressive, manipulative and controlling. He assaulted me when I was pregnant the first time. He has never had daily contact with our daughter, even though he put on the court forms he did! I felt sorry for him the Christmas before last when he begged me to get back together with him and plied me with alcohol, our son was then conceived. I have a history of breast cancer which is why I couldn't even consider not going through with the pregnancies. He has been continually aggressive to me in front of our daughter and assaulted me again in front of her when I was pregnant again. He's a dope smoker. He's had my daughter stay overnight with him once and she came back very ill, and I also suspect sexual abuse. I have informed social services and they are investigating. I cannot afford a solicitor and cannot get legal aid. Since I caught him chatting up gay men on the internet he has not contacted us since, except solicitors letters. What to do? What happens at the directions hearing?? Any advice welcome...

You need to make the history clear to the judge so he or she can make the necessary orders, which will include involvement from social serives as to their investigations and hair strand drug testing. The judge will then make orders at to what is to happen and when, and set a date for another hearing.

In most courts you will be invited to sit with him and a Cafcass officer in a concilliation meeting, which is aimed at settling the case by agreement. You need to make clear to the officer why concilliation is not appropriate in this case - as soon as you mention a social services investigation they will get the point.

Amanda

Thank you very much Amanda. Apparently there will be 3 magistrates. I phoned the court today. I am so scared to speak infront of him, he's threatened my life before and I'm absolutely dreaeding it!!! I'm so annoyed for being vulverable and letting this man be the father to my children, they are so gorgeous. What happens if I cry in court? will they just think I'm an emotional wreck?? I'm not, but he has caused me so much pain and heartache, it does start to get to you a bit!