First directions 1 hours time

Just found out that my wife wants residence order and has filed another court time after my contact case.

I havent signed anything but I dont know what the advantage to having this is?

All I want is to see my kids on my terms and not be subject to her demands.

Just when I thought I was signing off forever this comes up.... Help me Wikipeeps

Welcome back!

A residence order determines where a child lives and can be in favour of one parent or shared. A sole residence order is usually granted when for one reason or another children can''t "live" with the other parent. Practically there isn''t a great deal of difference between shared residence and the more traditional residence/contact order other than someone with a share residence order in their favour doesn''t need consent to go abroad on holiday for up to one month.

There is a no order principle so a sole residence order (or indeed any other order regulating Parental Responsibility) should only be made if it makes things work better for children. These days the outcome of many residence applications is shared residence to underline the importance of both parents.

Thanks- a little late but pretty much in line with what the judge said.

My exwife showed up with her barrister and solicitor, and I showed up on my own. I gave my reason for wanting a contact order and presented my plan for re-entering my children''s lives as I understand its been a year and a lot of water under the bridge. I also said I wanted my ex and I to try and sort a longer term plan out together but if we couldnt I would be seeking a defined contact order entailing (every other weekend 10am saturday- 6pm Sunday)/ every other holiday/ and a weeks holiday a year. Seems very reasonable and the judge agreed.

He said we both needed to go to parenting classes which I am actually looking forward to as I seem to be stumbling a bit with the affect this is having on my kids..

AND he said there was no reason impose a resident order - so that got thrown out.

Today was the hopefully the last time I wil be inside a court. I am hoping over the next 6 months (that is what we agreed- day contact on a sunday 10-4) some bridges can be built and my ex wife and I can move forward on being good divorced parnts.

I dont think I have come down from cloud nine yet...

Hope it all works out. Good luck.