Legal question please lawyer appreciated

Question

ill cut to the quick 16 year relationship broke down she moved out with my 10 year old daughter and her new bloke my son of 14 wants to and is staying with me ,she has said she is sending around the child support agency to tomorrow as im am not fit to be looking after him,which is balls i work full time feed and cloth him and all she is doing is getting at me what are my options please.iv never hit him abused in any way and am a good dad to him.

Answer 1

I my experience the last thing Social work want to do is remove a child from there home.  They will prob speak to your son and ask you a fewquestions.  If the claim is found to be totally unfounded then you have nothing to worry about.  As your son is 14 he could be asked where he wants to stay.  Try not to worry ....  i know easier said than done.

Answer 2

Tyler is right- Social work may refer it to family mediation if you can't reach an agreement, but basically your kid will have a major say and unless you are completely unsuitable the kid will stay with you. CSA are nothing to do with this they are only interested in the financial maintenance were benefits are involved.

Also may I suggest that if social work get involved you keep cool and be very reasonable about everything emphasising that it is what's best for the kids that counts, making her look like the unreasonable parent  

Answer 3

All above brilliant answers and even better the Government has finally conceded that the CSA is a complete load of shite and a waste of money and is closing down. Oh YES! (27th October 2008 to be precise)

Answer 4

It's nothing to do with the CSA. Have you applied for a Residency Order, if not consult a solicitor. The Court will ask your Son what he wants. Take no notice of your ex.  

Answer 5

CSA have absolutely nothing what so ever to do with it, They are only about maintenance payments and take no role in custody. Any dispute would be dealt with by social work, they would look at the 'paramount interest of the child', at aged 14 that includes asking him where he wants to live; as long as there is no abuse or neglect Social Work will leave it up to him. At the very worst (and this is if you were a junkie or total inadequate) they would vist regularly to supervise his stay with you. As long as everything is okay the child is going nowhere

incidentially i don't think the CSA just drop in at embittered spouses request  

Answer 6

The CSA has no authority to remove a boy of this age and the worst you could fear is that your wife may apply to the court for a residence order. As your son is 14, I think that his views would be taken very seriously by the court. To have him removed from the home where he has grown up and the neighbourhood where he has made friends would clearly be very disruptive of him. He loves you, his natural father, and wants to stay with you. Moreover, your ex's new man is an unknown quantity. Not many man want to have a fourteen year old boy thrust upon them, particularly one who is sulking that he doesn't want to be there. Looking at it objectively, a move to the other home doesn't look as though it's likely to work out. While the boy is happy and stable and well cared for, he is better off with his father if that's where he wants to be. If she fights -- you resist. http://www.family-lawfirm.co.uk/Children...

Answer 7

the CSA couldnt do anything in this case as they only deal with maintenance issues