Legal and Barrister Funding for Family Law Case
Donation protected
We are fighting through the family court to keep my 4yo stepson safe after suffering 2 Non Accidental Injuries whilst in the care of someone else when he was 2 years old and again when he was 4.
The case is private law because despite Children’s Services and the police being involved, as my partner and I had him with us, they did not consider him to be at immediate risk and we were ‘encouraged’ to seek private legal advice or they would consider care proceedings.
The second set of bruises were inflicted after only the third unsupervised contact that was allowed and is now continuing.
We have spent thousands negotiating the family court, we still owe the solicitor who we are trying to pay off and now have to fork out thousands for a barrister for a finding of fact hearing, which we can't afford and because we work, we can't get Legal Aid or any financial help.
We have spent in excess of £15,000 so far, my partner was working triple and quadruple shifts to pay for it all, but then was criticised by the court for not being home enough!
On top of that, I have 3 children of my own to support along with my partner's 4yo son.
My partner is now representing himself because we can't afford a solicitor, and every time he steps into court, he is outgunned, bullied and railroaded.
He has no voice.
We managed to secure a barrister through a charity for one hearing and it completely changed things but we have been told we won't be able to get a free one for the three-day hearing we have coming up in April.
We so desperately want to keep him safe, but the family court in private hearings is about money if you don't have a rich family to bankroll you, and they do, then you have no chance to be heard.
I hate to beg, it's not in my nature, but please help us to help him.
The case is private law because despite Children’s Services and the police being involved, as my partner and I had him with us, they did not consider him to be at immediate risk and we were ‘encouraged’ to seek private legal advice or they would consider care proceedings.
The second set of bruises were inflicted after only the third unsupervised contact that was allowed and is now continuing.
We have spent thousands negotiating the family court, we still owe the solicitor who we are trying to pay off and now have to fork out thousands for a barrister for a finding of fact hearing, which we can't afford and because we work, we can't get Legal Aid or any financial help.
We have spent in excess of £15,000 so far, my partner was working triple and quadruple shifts to pay for it all, but then was criticised by the court for not being home enough!
On top of that, I have 3 children of my own to support along with my partner's 4yo son.
My partner is now representing himself because we can't afford a solicitor, and every time he steps into court, he is outgunned, bullied and railroaded.
He has no voice.
We managed to secure a barrister through a charity for one hearing and it completely changed things but we have been told we won't be able to get a free one for the three-day hearing we have coming up in April.
We so desperately want to keep him safe, but the family court in private hearings is about money if you don't have a rich family to bankroll you, and they do, then you have no chance to be heard.
I hate to beg, it's not in my nature, but please help us to help him.
Organizer
Julie Smith
Organizer
England
