Family court

I wouldn’t worry about how it’s set out too much but you could copy the header from the s.7 report and make sure the court case number is on it. The most important part is a statement of truth so you should put at the end:

‘I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.’

Then sign and date it.

Join the family law Facebook page, it’s run by mckenzzie friends so super helpful x

would I be writing in response to what has been said in The section 7 report?

Yes I’d respond to what’s written in the s7 but just make sure you raise anything that you want the court to know. Have you had legal advice? You should be able to get a 30 minute free session from any solicitor.

yea I’ve been in contact with solicitors but they haven’t bothered getting back to me and the report is due in today. But the cafcass officer has lied in the s7 and said things that I didn’t say or things she never asked me. Also she basically just put all my ex’s worries in there and nothing about mine. She never even interviewed me properly. I think this is our 4th hearing coming up next week and he’s now mentioned I physically abused him. This was the last argument we had before I left and he started to record me once i basically had enough of everything he was doing. Funny he remained calm himself while recording. I had reported DA at the first stage of him making the application which I’ve never even been asked about.

You should be able to get a solicitor for free with legal aid for domestic abuse. I’m not sure what evidence they ask for. Try another solicitor. You can still write the statements and send it in and then maybe send it to a solicitor and ask for help getting legal aid. You can just say you need to correct the s7 as they got some things wrong and then set out the domestic abuse as simply as you can.

I’ve already tried legal aid and I don’t qualify as have equity in my house. I’m due court on Wednesday. And I’ve already sent a response to the cafcass worker regarding what is wrong with the report but have decided to ignore it as no changes to the report have been made. I’ve mentioned bits in my report but i will bring this up while I’m in court. I’ve put my abuse in my report and I will attach what evidence I have but it all happened in person or in phone conversation, which at the time you don’t think about recording as you’re in constant flight of fight mode and anxiety is through the roof. I’ve spoken to my gp, health visitor and other DA organisations so have put that in there too. I’m guessing I need to provide evidence with this?

Yes put everyone in that you’ve spoken to about it before. Maybe explain what happened at the time and why you didn’t report it to the police but if you spoke to other people then it’s still evidence. I’m assuming he will try to say you’re only alleging domestic abuse now because you’re in court so any evidence you have to disprove that will help.

no I had reported DA when he made the application. But never gave details about what happened. He’s only just now brought up that I was physically abusive to him. I have mentioned in my report that why has he only now reported this. But since I left he’s been trying to scare me about him having the one recording of me. But the police were called by a neighbour when that incident happened, I don’t think cafcass has even asked the police about what they feel had happened. He never physically abused me it was more verbal, emotional and psychological. He was lying and cheating throughout the relationship.