court threat

My ex hasnt seen our children for 16 weeks, he made an excuse one week and then that was it, he is known for telling tall stories and ive heard hes been telling everyone that im not letting him. If anything ive bent over backwards to get him to have access, offering alternative days etc etc. Now today out of the blue came a letter saying "our client wishes to have one last attempt at gaining access and then will take you to court" im gobsmacked because its come so out of the blue! Baring in mind hes a very heavy drinker and has actually made threats of death twice to two different people i think most would perhaps deny access altogether! Anyway that aside what would happen if he did do it? Im already faced with big legal bills from the divorce, who would pay in such a case? Thank you, Helen x

Am confused. You want him to have contact and bend over backwards to try and ecourage this. So where's the problem?

Why not simply write back and agree something?

ok now im thinking a little clearer! The letter came so out of the blue i was flustered. A little background. Ex has a big drinking problem, to the degree that last time he had the kids on a sunday him and his dad left them alone for 2 hours to go to the pub, i know you cant go on hearsay but im constantly getting people say to me "i saw him in the pub on saturday so drunk he couldnt stand",he picked up little one from a party so drunk he asked for the wrong child and staggering. He had a drink drive ban and did the rehabilitation course and got 6 months knocked off, he failed to get his licence back then but has since had it returned. I have said i will drop off the kids and pick them back up again, i later had a text message saying "theyre my f***ing kids and ill drive them. I think the kids should see him but my one "rule" is he dosent drive them. They are themselves witness to him swigging out bottles when he thinks theyre not looking etc. He threatens to kill people when hes drunk etc etc. I am genuinly scared he would again crash his car with them in it. So now hes saying hes taking me to court. Helen x

Perhaps you could offer to agree some temporary arrangements now and offer to discuss things further at mediation?

At the end of the day, you want peace of mind and perhaps the best way to get that is a face to face discussion with your ex rather than having a decision imposed on you by a judge.

Hi,

In answer to your question, I would expect that you and your ex would pay your own legal fees if this went to court.

It would be worth trying a letter back to his solicitor saying you have not blocked contact in the past and that you are happy to agree contact on conditions such as not driving and not drinking in the kids presence.

The children are in a very vulnerable position if he is drunk and trying to look after them.

far as i know it there isnt really any costs awarded in child contact unless its enforcement of contact where a monetary loss was had (ie holiday booked and passports not handed over etc;)

Thank you very much to everyone. Ive sent yet another letter saying i have never stopped contact and as long as he agrees not to drive etc then im happy for him to see them. I sent a similar one last time but then weeks later came the reply i first posted about saying in a nutshell if i dont let him pick them up in the car then hes taking me to court. Actually the court would have to lock me up before i let them in that car.He actually only lives a few minutes away so theres no reason for him to drive x