Public funding refused

I am due in court on the 24th November, as my ex partner is requesting contact with my daughter.
My solicitor applied for public funding for me so I could be represented in court.
The Legal service has said that I am not entitled to public funding, as I am not apposing contact, and that it shouldn't be dealt with through the court.
My solicitor therefore isn't going to be representing me in court, and I will have to attend alone.
Is there anything I can do?
Can someone else come with me, such as my mum or my partner?
Any comments greatly appreciated.

If you don't oppose contact, what are you doing in court?

In my experience most contact disputes aren't about opposing contact per se but about how much contact and when.

You can take a layperson with you for moral support and to help with paperwork, take notes etc. See the guidance on McKenzie Friends;

www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed26548

You can take anyone with you as a McKenzie Friend, but the President's Guidance is that they may not have an interest in the case, which rules out partners and families, though there have been exceptions. You must apply to the court for leave to use an MF, and they must be available for the duration of the proceedings. The full Guidance is here: www.judiciary.gov.uk/docs/pfd_guidance_m...friends_oct_2008.pdf

Saturdad's comment is not entirely inappropriate: if there is any way you can avoid court you should take it. What exactly is in dispute?

I thought in your previous posts you said he was bluffing? It would appear he's not and you have bigger problems than just contact particularly as you've practically changed your childs name to your partners already despite the fact you're not due to be married till 2012.

T

Forseti wrote:

Saturdad's comment is not entirely inappropriate: if there is any way you can avoid court you should take it. What exactly is in dispute?

That was my point, yes.

I have done everything I can to avoid court and it is only in the face of a refusal to even discuss the matter that I have, reluctantly, had to take that step.

You stated your ex was requesting contact, and that you do not oppose contact. Why, then, court?

Saturdad wrote:

Forseti wrote:

Saturdad's comment is not entirely inappropriate: if there is any way you can avoid court you should take it. What exactly is in dispute?

That was my point, yes.

I have done everything I can to avoid court and it is only in the face of a refusal to even discuss the matter that I have, reluctantly, had to take that step.

You stated your ex was requesting contact, and that you do not oppose contact. Why, then, court?

If you read through some of the posters other thread regarding name change etc you'll understand more why this is a case that was destined to end in court.

AM - you're already fully aware of why you're in court and it's not just about contact. You asked for advice and you were warned that if you carried on down the line of autonomy with your child's life then you would leave the other parent with no option.

You can't seriously expect any parent to sit by and watch his child have someone else's name that his ex isn't married to and won't be for 3 years yet? For that same child to call that person daddy? and for him not to react.

T