Help needed urgently!!!

I''m seventeen and my parents are going through a divorce. It has lasted nearly four years now and due to unfair court cases and financial differences between my parents, my daddy has been slaughtered in court and left with nothing.
However, after four years of being second best to my mothers numerous boyfriends, I decided to live with my father, even though he has been left with hardly enough money to live on. He looked after me, whilst still paying CSA money to my mother, which he still pays to this day after nearly six months.

My dad lives in rented accomodation in ashby, in a small house which he scrapes enough money together each month to pay for so me and my younger brother can stay with him whenever we want. My mother however, lives in a large expensive house in the countryside in which she bought with her boyfriend, 70 miles away from where I live. Still, the courts are giving her 60% of everything.

My mother has chosen her new boyfriend over me, her daughter and although this is difficult to come to terms with, my only problem is that she has taken my little brother away from me and I might never see him again. My mother has severed all contact with me after my decision to live with my dad and I have no means of transport to visit my brother. She also refuses to give either me, or my dad the address to her new house.

I miss my brother very much and I am only seventeen so I have no idea how I can arrange regular contact with him without being able to speak to my mother. I don''t really know the legal side of this, but surely there is some law to allow brother s and sisters to stay in contact? Please can someone help!

Just wanted to say how brave and mature you are to post on this forum. Someone will come along very soon who will be able to answer your concerns. I am afraid that I cannot but be patient and you will find answers here. The very best of luck in seeing your brother again.

Katyjayne your post touched my heart.How old is your brother?

He''s fourteen:) and hes so special to me, I think the world of him

As far as contact is concerned you can apply in your own right to court for a contact order to see your brother and you would be entitled to legal aid to pay for a solicitor.

I can understand how awful it must be to feel rejected by your mum but who said your dad was slaughtered by the courts? Him? It may well feel like it to him but to say he was left with nothing and your mum has 60% of the assets is contradictory. My guess is the courts awarded your mum 60% of the assets because her income is less, she will have the responsibility of housing your brother for a good few years to come and the courts would want to ensure your mum can afford to house herself and your brother should the new relationship break down.

Your parents really shouldn''t involve you in their disputes. In fact information given in court cases is confidential and strictly speaking it is contempt of court to disclose information when the rules don''t allow it. There''s a clear difference between telling you enough so you know what''s going on and giving you too much information.
Parents have a duty to shield children (whatever their age) as much as possible from the conflict in these cases.

I totally agree with Fiona.
Katie i too have a daughter alittle older then you 18 and a son a little younger then your brother 12.They see each other once a week and due to my ex involving my daughter so much in the divorce our relationship will never be strong again but i miss her soooooo much and im sure deep down your mum misses you xx

Hi Fiona,

Thanks for replying. I know im young and honestly dont know anything about the legal side of things, but my mother made me read all the documentation to do with the courts and it surprises me how many lies are told in divorces, and believed by the courts.

My dad has worked at the steelworks his whole life, he has never claimed benefits and has looked after me whilst still paying CSA to my mum. My mum is a nurse and earns a lot more than my dad.

I only find it unfair because I cannot afford to see my little brother and whilst my mother can, she refuses to bring him here.

I have lived with both of my parents and have heard both sides of the story. The thing is, I know what really happened, and I am unbiased. Is there any way I can put my side accross to the courts? If there is could this change their minds about the financial side of things so I could see my brother?

Thanks