Separation....legal considerations

Footy101

Hi everyone, am just looking for some advice about dealing with separating from one's partner when a child is involved please. Are there certain steps to be taken to make things clearer for all parties involved? The day to day things!

The separation is reasonably amicable, the child's happiness being agreed as paramount etc, but the interaction in terms of access to the child and costs for maintaining the house (mortgage together) including home improvements can be a little 'fluid'. The mother lives in the house with the child. On some nights, the father stays in the house and the mother stays with friends.

I'm just looking for general advice or comments to be honest. Not entirely sure that there is parity in terms of access and costs being shared really. Anyway. Thanks in advance.

Zaph

Moved from Feedback

Ken.

First question that will dictate how this thread goes. Are the parents married?

Footy101

ken wrote: »

First question that will dictate how this thread goes. Are the parents married?

No, not married.

Ken.

Then the father needs to get in to court to get guardianship sorted out. As to access that can be sorted out in court also but very few would get 50/50 custody as its seen as too disruptive on the child. The parents could go the mediation route and get everything sorted out first in a non confrontational setting and then go in to court to rubber stamp it.

http://www.familymediation.ie/ Check here to find your nearest one.

Footy101

ken wrote: »

Then the father needs to get in to court to get guardianship sorted out. As to access that can be sorted out in court also but very few would get 50/50 custody as its seen as too disruptive on the child. The parents could go the mediation route and get everything sorted out first in a non confrontational setting and then go in to court to rubber stamp it.

http://www.familymediation.ie/ Check here to find your nearest one.

Thanks for taking the time on this.

Ken.

You should suggest to the father having a read of this site and maybe contacting them. They can be a great help to people a bit 'shell shocked' by the whole process. http://www.uspi.ie/

And your welcome.

haveringchick

Definitely if the separation is amicable go down the mediation route, highly recommended

acon2119

The details concerning the child and the house can be set out any way the couple want if they are both in agreement. There are no definite hard and fast rules regarding who pays what, as long as both parties are pulling their weight as much as they can, and are in agreement.

Its a good thing for the child that you are both spending time with him/her in the family home, this creates stability, but only continue to do this if you are able to stay on friendly terms because children quickly pick up on a bad atmosphere between they're parents.

Well done on trying to make things as easy for your child as possible, many parents cant put their own feelings second to their child's happiness. They often talk the talk but cant actually do it.
Good Luck