James Bowles
Family and Divorce Law
Child Arrangement When Drug Use is Involved
What can you do when you are concerned about your ex-partners use of drugs or alcohol?
What can you do when you are concerned about your ex-partners use of drugs or alcohol?
We acted for a Respondent Father who was concerned about his ex-wife’s drug use around the children. After having a consultation with a solicitor, the father did not return his children to his former partner at the end of contact, due to the mother’s use of Class A drugs during the time the children were in her care and the need to safeguard the welfare of the children. The mother made an emergency application to have the children returned to her. We took the father’s instructions at very short notice and represented him at the hearing, where it was ordered that the children would remain with the father and limited contact with the mother in the interim. The Mother had to undertake to not use any drugs or alcohol 24 hours prior to seeing the children and throughout the time that they were in her care. We continued to represent the father at the further hearings. In the interim we assisted the father in ensuring that the children remained safe in obtaining regular reports and drug testing on the mother. Through diligent monitoring and efforts to reach the best outcome and ensuring the safety of the children, and when the mother was clear of drugs for a substantial amount of time, we were able to agree arrangements prior to trial.
