Shared Custody & Coronavirus

[J9@gmail]

Hello…..I’m actually after some advice for a friend of mind and I was hoping someone might be able to point her in the right direction?

So my friend has a 10 year old son with her ex-partner. They share custody 50/50 through a court order. She suffered DV from her ex and he is very controlling. My friend also suffers with mental health issues and he takes every opportunity to use this against her. 4 weeks ago her son was with his father and he has not allowed him to come back to her in that time citing ‘we’re self isolating as we have symptoms’ then when she asked again after the 14 days if she could see her son he replied ‘not in these current circumstances’. As you can imagine this is really affecting her MH but I have read her correspondence with him and she always keeps polite and calm. She has been trying to get hold of her solicitor but is getting no response from her (this is through legal aid). She has no money to pay for legal representation. The thought of not being able to see her son throughout the whole of lock down is killing her.

Can anyone suggest anything please?

 

[Kathymumofone]

If she has a court order, and he is refusing her access, she can call the police.
her ex is in breach.

[mumof2!]

Hey,

I am in the same situation also. I went to collect my son from his father this evening and he refused to return him due to covid 19 because my partner is living with me.  I have a court order in place but police said they cannot act on it. I have been advised to contact emergency social services which I have done and hope to speak to a social worker tomorrow. Solicitors are so hard to get in contact with but hopefully she can get one sorted as it is unfair what he is doing for both mother and child not getting to each other. I hope she does get sorted.

[GingerbreadJustine]

Hi all

Please remember that you can always contact our single parent helpline.  They should be able to help you to explore any options available to you.  Here are their details:

• Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline – Freephone 0808 802 0925

Opening hours:  Mon 10 – 6, Tues 10- 4, Wed 10 – 1 & 5 – 7, Thurs 10 – 4, Fri 10 – 4  They can be busy so callers can expect to wait up to 20 minutes before the call is answered.

Kind regards, Justine

[Betzy]

As I understand it contact can still happen as long as both households are acting as one. So when your son is with you you are following all the guild lines in so far as not having anyone outside the family unit coming into the home and your ex has to do the same. Cafcass have the government guidelines on this.
good luck

[Author]

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