Family Court Hearing And No Visit By Cafcass Officer Yet

[buffymad]

Hello

My boyfriend is going through the family courts trying to gain access to his daughter. The first hearing was held a little while ago and it's not too long before the next one. However, he hasn't received a visit or even a phone call from the Cafcass officer whom he received a letter from. He chased this up last week but no return call made. He's phoned again today to find he's on holiday this week!

Can/should the hearing go ahead if the officer hasn't visited him by then?

Also, his ex has got the police involved for something he apparently did years ago when they were together (untrue) so I'm not sure if this would mean the hearing is postponed or not? If so, who should be telling him about that?

He was representing himself, hence me asking questions on here, so sorry in advance!

[Quoi]

I dont know the exact answer in your case but I can tell you that for my son's hearing the cafcass officer was in the court on the day and spent an hour with him before the hearing.
I wouldnt have thought the police involvement will delay the hearing. There is a lot of negotiation that goes on behind the scenes on the court day prior to even meeting the judge. Information is passed between the parties via the solicitors and barristers to try to achieve the objectives of the hearing by agreement if possible.
In our case the judge almost 'rubber stamped' what everybody had agreed.

[Peter Pedant]

echo quoi
whatever he does
the boyfriend MUST turn up on the court date at the right time

\nd yes if there are mediators trying to get a fair resolution
then he has to take them on as well .....

[horselady]

When my daughter and her former partner went to court the cafcass officer spent some time with the two of them before they went in. She commented on how refreshing it was to see two people getting on so well-if only she knew how much my daughter would have poked his eyes out given half the chance!!

[buffymad]

The thing is he received a letter saying the Cafcass officer would be visiting his ex and himself (separately of course!) in order for him to write his report. How can he do that if he hasn't spoken to my boyfriend yet?!

[Barmaid]

Unfortunately Buffymad, it is likely that CAFCASS are understaffed. It is a sad fact that the cuts have meant that this is an area which has suffered. It is possible the officer will be able to see your BF and get his report done before the hearing. If not, it is likely that the Judge will attempt an interim resolution pending completion of the report. It is palpably unlikely that a final resolution will happen without a CAFCASS recommendation. Your BF should still attend Court UNLESS he receives notification FROM THE COURT that the case has been put back.

Unlikely that the hearing will be postponed pending police investigation - particularly if it a very old matter. The Family Court is more concerned with going forwards not backwards.

This is not my area, I just speak from long personal experience of this.