There’s a particular kind of fear that comes with opening an envelope and realising it contains Family Court documents.
I would assume many dad’s stomach’s drops, you start reading, and before you’ve even finished the first page, your mind is already somewhere down the road imagining the worst possible outcome.
I’ve spoken to dads who have gone through exactly that and heir first instinct is often to fight back immediately.
They want to write an email and explain what really happened.
They want to tell someone that the other side is lying.
I understand that reaction.
But this is one of those moments where slowing down can be far more useful than reacting.
I asked Daniel Dalli from Aston Legal Group what he would tell a dad who has just been served.
His first advice was simple: don’t panic and don’t ignore it.
Court documents aren’t something you should put in a drawer and hope disappear.
They may contain important information about what has been filed, what is being sought and what you need to do next. There may also be deadlines that matter.
At the same time, receiving an application doesn’t mean that everything written in it has been accepted as fact.
That’s important to understand.
Your job isn’t to win the argument in the first email you send, your job is to understand what’s happening and work out what your options are.
That might mean getting legal advice so you understand what the documents mean and how you should respond.
It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re destined for a long and bitter court battle.
Every family is different.
Some matters resolve through negotiation or dispute resolution. Others need the Court to make decisions.
But whatever happens, you’re generally going to be in a much better position if you understand the process rather than reacting to it from a place of fear.I think that’s one of the biggest lessons of separation.
When you’re frightened, you want to do something immediately.
Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is take a breath and find out what’s actually happening first.
A final thought
If those documents arrive at your house one day, don’t let the fear take over, put them somewhere safe, read them carefully.
Get advice if you need it, thats why we have an exclusive partnership with the Aston Legal Group, you can enquire and make contact here.
Then take the next step | Not all ten steps at once.
Just the next one.
Comment