BEVS

I'd do both anyway.

Jerseygirl

So would I.

Dorothy

Yes, both. Email asking for a read receipt and registered mail for the letter. No way to deny getting it then.

Pollyana

Definitely. Cover all bases.

quoll

Definitely direct to both - direct to the NSW minister with a cc to your local member.

BEVS

Umm.

Not wishing to intrude but I will anyway.

What's the news please?

It's not about being nosy but you can tell us to bog off. I think about you guys.

Rosemary

Thanks BEVS, I have been stewing over it and like you did not want to intrude but........

Rosemary

cresta57

Lol at you two.
Well so far nothing has happened aside from the NSW facs paying a visit to the property they are staying at twice within the last fortnight. The second time police were accompanying them. I don't know any details as it came via his mother [who had the family they are staying with on the phone complaining about it]
They are in the system and have been visited so that's a bonus.
We saw another solicitor and he has basically said that as we're both in work and they aren't they could keep fighting us until we've spent every cent we have. The last client spent 20k and lost. I think from a legal point of view we're not in a position to take on legal aid. The best we can hope for is that the cops bust them and we get a temporary care order.
Sounds harsh that money is a stumbling block. As the solicitor was quick to point out at the moment these are only allegations and without actual convictions there's no hard evidence. Unless they're caught driving a vehicle they can't be made to take a drug test.

Dorothy

Oh Sean that sounds like both good news and bad for you. Fingers crossed they get caught driving (not with the kids in the car obviously).

Rosemary

Thank you for the update. Your hands are totally tied with the law as it is so that must be so frustrating for you. For me it is a very positive thing that the second visit by the NSW had a police presence because if it is anything like the UK that means that the NSW are concerned enough to think that the police are required.

Rosemary

cresta57

Our thoughts exactly

BEVS

Yes

Horrible. Dreadful. Frustration.

Have to hope that visits like that will harry the pair into doing something which allows for the drug testing.

Totally sucks about the money side though. At least the lawyer was up front about this.

Siouxie

It sounds like a step in the right direction, albeit it may take a while - at least the NSW Facs and Police have them on their radar now.

Kudos to the solicitor who was upfront and straight with you - makes a nice change.

that they will find sufficient evidence to allow you to get custody in one form or another.

{hugs}

Bermudashorts

I agree with poster that said kudos with solicitor for being upfront with you. The friend I referred to earlier on the thread has spent $100k on her long battle so far. It cannot be ignored. She is a nurse and (now) single grandparent, she only works part time because she has had temporary custody for most of the child's life and therefore needed to provide childcare. But still she has to keep on paying out whilst her daughter who keeps trying to get child back, has free representation. Australia seems to put parent before child as far as I can tell.

cresta57

Yes, we asked about locally for a recommendation, one of the residents that Deb cares for has a solicitor relative and they were very obliging, pulled no punches and told it exactly as they saw it.
Now with school, facs & police involved I can at least sleep at night knowing they are under a watchful eye. We're emergency contact so we're awaiting that call