Case Study: Restoring a Father’s Right to Child Contact After Allegations
Brief overview
Following the breakdown of his relationship with the child’s mother, our client faced an emotionally difficult situation: the mother unilaterally stopped all contact between father and child, without any legal justification. She made allegations of harassment against him, which led to a police investigation and criminal charges.
Despite his best efforts to resolve the situation amicably, the mother remained unwilling to engage. Initial legal advice from another solicitor left him feeling unsupported and uncertain. That is when he turned to RLK.
Primary legal issue
The father was seeking reinstatement of contact with his child, a right the mother had removed without any lawful basis.
The allegations made against him were eventually found to be baseless, but they added a significant layer of complexity and emotional strain to the case.
Challenges faced
- The client had received poor advice elsewhere, which had delayed progress and added to his frustration.
- We needed to act swiftly and decisively to correct the course of the case and protect the father’s relationship with his child.
- Overcoming the shadow cast by the mother’s unfounded allegations was crucial in both the family and criminal courts.
Legal approach and strategy
We took a proactive and strategic approach:
- Emphasised that the mother had no legal right to prevent contact.
- Presented clear evidence that the allegations were without merit, supporting the client’s integrity.
- Focused proceedings on the welfare of the child and the unjustified disruption to the father-child bond.
Throughout, we remained firm but sensitive, understanding the personal stakes while relentlessly pursuing the legal outcome the father and child deserved.
Outcome and impact
- The criminal court found that the father had no case to answer.
- The family court agreed that the mother had acted in bad faith and reinstated the father’s contact rights through a court order.
- A consistent and structured contact arrangement was established, restoring the child’s vital relationship with their father.
Client benefits and key takeaways
This case highlights that if your solicitor’s advice does not feel right, it is worth seeking a second opinion.
When time, relationships, and trust are on the line, having a legal team that will not give up makes all the difference.
We do not just follow the standard path; we find creative solutions to secure the right outcome.
