Family Law
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Hello, how are you today?
My name is Lea. It would be nice if you could let me know your name, so that I know who I am talking to. I am going to see if I can assist with your query. I may need to ask you additional questions and it is important for you to answer all the questions clearly, so that I have the information I need to give you an accurate response for your specific legal situation. JA is a Q&A website, and this ‘chat’ is email based, which means responses may not be immediate. Do rest assured however, that I will be providing you with an answer to your query today.
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Hello Rehan
What statements have the children made?
Who interviewed the children to get their views?
Lawyers don't interview kids in private law proceedings, it must have been a social worker, or an instructed expert (via the court).
If you don't agree with what the children have written, then you can write your disputes, with any evidence, in your own statement in reply (if you have been ordered to provide one).
You cannot file anything against Social Services at this stage. If you have concerns about their input you have to go through their complaints procedure and then to the Local Authority Ombudsman.
That's a matter for the court.
You asked how to challenge the kids statements - you do that within your own statement, and provide evidence to disprove what they have said.
Yes, you raise the issue in your statement to court that is what I have said.
If you have already complained to SS and to the ombudsman, then you'll have had a response from them as to what you can do next.
Yes, I read your previous threads - seems the judge simply told the social worker that they didn't need to be present for hearings. That is completely normal.
You'd need permission.
You will need permission for that too.
That is beyond the scope of this Q&A forum.
You can find a solicitor here: solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk
Everything you want to rely on will be shared with the mother and her lawyers.
You have to have permission to add info to the bundle.
Can I clarify anything about your original query regarding challenging the kids' statements?
What precisely?
Be clear as I am going offline in about two minutes.
You can challenge the statements of the kids via a statement of your own - but you need the court's permission first. Apply on form C2, cost is £232.
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Thanks for using JA! All the best!
You can only do it privately by instructing a solicitor. This forum does not cater for that.
All the best.
You're very welcome.