A phrase you might hear during court proceedings about your child is ‘position statements’.
Directions are often made by Judges for position statements to be filed before a hearing.
A position statement is different to a witness statement. A witness statement is a long document with documents in support, setting out your evidence and what you say has happened.
A position statement is a much shorter document, which summarises what you say has happened, the issues you think are in dispute between you and the other parent and what you are asking the court to do, either at a particular hearing or as a final order. If you are represented by a solicitor or barrister, they will usually prepare a position statement for you.
If you are preparing a position statement yourself, remember this is for the Judge to read before the hearing. Particularly for a shorter hearing, the Judge will probably only have a few minutes to read it.
Make sure it’s not too long and gets to the key points quickly. Otherwise you risk the Judge not reading the whole document or ‘switching off’ whilst reading it.
Usually, position statements are exchanged with the other party before the hearing, so that before the hearing starts you both know what the other is asking the court to do.
For any advice or representation with your case, please do contact us at office@childreninthemiddle.co.uk or 0117 214 1797.