residency orders

[ngoodair]

i am about to go to court about my 7yr old daughter.her father has been absent for 3yrs an now just applied for contact an parent responsibility.i am applying for residency and aggreeing to contact.can he apply for joint residency?and can i get some child maitianance?

[kittywoo]

hi
of course your entitled to maintanance. wether he sees her or not... and you should of been reciving it from the start.. fairplay to you for agreeing to contact it can be hard to do this. in answer to wether he can apply for joint residency the answer is yes however he would be unlikly to get it. especially if he has only just returned back on the scene. i would fight to keep all parental responsability. it can get messy otherwise, and take your time reintroducing him into your daughters life 3 years to a child is an eternity.
good luck and keep me posted
been there myself exactly the same....
hope it goes well!
she may not even recognise him..
it will be hard on her.
get a good solicitor ( legal aid if you cant afford one yourself...)
stress to the court you are willing to let him have involvement but not to much to soon..
it could really mess your daughters head up!