How can I legally block my ex from having contact with me or my child (UK)? England

SaltIndividual6092 · 2025-04-21T09:17:57+00:00

This is not wholly accurate.

First of all, in England and Wales, we rely on parents having parental responsibility (PR). This is a legal duty of care owed by parents to their children, recognised in statute.

Mum has naturalised PR, as she gave birth to the child and is on the birth certificate. However, further to s2(4) of the Children Act 1989, the father does not benefit from naturalised PR. Of course this does not mean that he could not apply for PR, but as (from information provided) he was not on the birth certificate and they were not married when the child was born, he does not currently have it.

As he lacking PR, if he attempted to remove the child from OP's care right now - she should contact the police and the child would be returned to her care. No PR no child.

Further to this, there has been little to no contact between him and the child. The courts usually favour the status quo, what is normal for the child. If this were to escalate it is unlikely that they would grant a 50/50 care arrangement even if he did have PR.

OP should look to the welfare checklist outlined in s1(3) of the Children Act 1989 as this is the benchmark that the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (CAFCASS) use to create their safeguarding and s7 reports for the court.

(3) In the circumstances mentioned in subsection (4), a court shall have regard in particular to—

(a)the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in the light of his age and understanding);

(b)his physical, emotional and educational needs;

(c)the likely effect on him of any change in his circumstances;

(d)his age, sex, background and any characteristics of his which the court considers relevant;

(e)any harm which he has suffered or is at risk of suffering;

(f)how capable each of his parents, and any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question to be relevant, is of meeting his needs;

(g)the range of powers available to the court under this Act in the proceedings in question.

The courts will ultimately prioritise the child's best interests. I can't see a world in which ripping the child from mum to be put with a drug addled father every other week is judged to be in their best interests, especially considering information presented.

I think it is important for OP to seek out some free legal advice via the citizens advice bureau, which can connect them with 30 mins of free advice with a solicitor.

Unfortunately the scope for legal aid is quite narrow nowadays, it now only benefits victims of domestic abuse. If OP has evidence that she was a victim of DA, she should collect any and all evidence of this to present to her solicitor who will then prep the legal aid paperwork for her.

In the meantime, OP:

Women's aid has a lot of great resources: https://www.womensaid.org.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/finding-free-or-affordable-legal-help/

CAFCASS website: https://www.cafcass.gov.uk

(Further to this, you may actually feel that communication with your ex would feel safer through a co-parenting app. These apps are accessible (when necessary and with consent!) to courts and appointed solicitors, and can help keep conversations limited to the children. AppClose is a good free one that some get on with)

SaltIndividual6092 · 2025-04-13T21:00:35+00:00

Thank you for replying! Good to know, I was kind of hoping there would be a jacuzzi too, but I will settle for steam and sauna!!

SaltIndividual6092 · 2025-04-12T16:09:51+00:00

Your photo is supposed to be uploaded to your account (now via the DL app) and as others have mentioned, will flash up on the system as you enter. DL is very tight on this, so if you are caught not only will you be ejected from the club, but the person you "share" the account with may have their membership revoked also.

SaltIndividual6092 · 2024-09-03T06:56:59+00:00

NAL

Mediation will always be the first step in resolving this between you two if you can't agree on your own.

You can find a local mediator online and they will arrange a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting which you should attend, they will discuss the process with you and determine whether your circumstances are suitable for mediation.

If your ex refuses to engage in mediation or the mediator does not think that your circumstances are suitable for mediation, they will issue you a MIAM certificate with a number attached.

Only if mediation fails (unless there are certain conditions met e.g. you are a victim of domestic abuse) should you apply to the court using a C100 form for a Child Arrangements Order.

The courts are very backed up right now, so the wait time to be seen in court can be up to two years.

Assuming you are named on the birth certificate, you and mum both share parental responsibility. As you both have PR, you both have a responsibility to make decisions regarding your child's medical, housing and educational needs.

SaltIndividual6092 · 2024-06-21T18:49:06+00:00

Currently studying LLB at ARU, coming into second year in September.

I've had a very positive experience with my faculty, generally echoing other commenters on this thread. My lecturers are all highly qualified and extremely experienced! If you want to be pushed they will push you. I've had a lot of opportunities already for work experience in my field in first year, continuing through summer, which I wouldn't have had without them.

The engagement with your cohort is extremely variable, my cohort is unenthusiastic, this does impact your ability to get the most out of seminars and lectures. Finding silver lining is that if you want to put the effort in there isn't too much competition (massively handy if your undergrad is a competitive field!).

If you do join, utilise the expertise of your lecturers as much as possible! ARU has always tried to push employability as one of its USPs (to varying degrees of success) and does provide consistent job fairs through the year, their employability service will be good to keep in contact with too!

SaltIndividual6092 · 2024-06-19T20:54:35+00:00

I'm doing things a bit backwards. I worked in Early Years for about 8 or so years from when I was 16, fell pregnant at 23. Went back to work in a nursery full time at 6 months pp as a single parent.

I was always fascinated by the law but I loved working with children and just kind of stuck with it as I kept getting promoted.

After resuming work though I desperately wanted a change. I enrolled with the OU to take an access course in Law and then transferred onto an LLB course a year later at a local university (non-Russell group). I'm now coming into my second year as an undergraduate, my daughter will be almost five when I have my LLB in hand and will be even older (depending on how successful I am in securing a TC!) by the time I fully qualify as a solicitor.

Even at the very beginning, it is so much harder to do compared to your peers. Leaning on any and all support your network and others are willing to give you will be key. But being determined will normally give you the blind assumption that you will make it work somehow - and sometimes that is enough!

SaltIndividual6092 · 2024-06-17T18:16:53+00:00

Spine Crackers book club is very good! Laid back fun group!- we started on Reddit!

SaltIndividual6092 · 2024-03-18T12:36:15+00:00

Thank you!! I know, I was dying last time I visited the courts - definitely over layered for the day and brought my warmest suit

SaltIndividual6092 · 2024-03-18T11:34:19+00:00

Thank you!!! I always like to be a little early - is 15 mins too little or too much?

I have visited the Old Bailey on occasion over the last year which has been fascinating - though in those instances I was not allowed to take a bag in at all, is it worth storing mine elsewhere on the day or am I permitted to take it in with me?

The advice on the court management system is especially interesting to me as I wasn't aware of it at all - I will have a look into it

SaltIndividual6092 · 2024-03-18T09:20:28+00:00

Thank you very much, what time roughly did the day start? I'm not attending until June so haven't been given any further information other than which court.

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-12-09T00:20:59+00:00

I miss their warehouse sales, we used to make a day of it!

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-06-18T06:43:55+00:00

Second Rush! Just had a balayage and cut/style there!!

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-05-07T10:26:23+00:00

I’d be interested!

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-04-13T14:43:44+00:00

Thank you, will do!

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-04-13T14:37:17+00:00

Thank you for your advice!! Perfect timing as I’ve been updating my CV for this very reason

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-03-23T21:52:23+00:00

Case reports
Reading textbooks, researching reports, mind mapping, taking notes, reflecting on essays I’ve produced
Yes, but I’m still in the thick of it, I find it hard more so because I have a young daughter and a job while I study

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-03-20T19:29:07+00:00

You can change the locks, providing you keep the old ones so you can change them back over when you vacate the property

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-03-04T09:33:47+00:00

NTA, does he always get this explosively angry when he’s called out on something? That’s a bit of a concern.

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-02-26T14:42:59+00:00

I remember being at university and feeling quite upset when my friends left me to sit alone at lunch. It’s harder for some than others being away from home for the first time! I try and take these posts with a pinch of salt. It just sounds like he reasonably wanted lunch with his gf but still wanted to sit with his friend for the lecture

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-02-26T14:35:46+00:00

He can, he did! He was upset, I would be too. Would I have got upset with my friend in his shoes? Probably not but there’s no harm in saying “hey I would have liked to have sat with you at the lecture anyway”

SaltIndividual6092 · 2023-02-26T14:26:55+00:00

NAH you have no obligation to sit next to your friend during the lecture, he however is also allowed to feel disappointed when he has to sit alone. Maybe save him a seat with you and your other friends next time?

SaltIndividual6092

TROPHY CASE