There are many terms that you might come across when going through court proceedings involving your child. One of these terms is ‘fact-finding hearing’.
A fact-finding hearing is where a Judge will decide whether or not certain events, or facts, happened, after hearing evidence from both parents.
Usually (although not always) the events in question are harm to the child by one or both parents, domestic abuse or coercive control by one parent against the other.
The Judge’s role is to try to work out what has gone on in the past. The risk of future harm to the child or parent can be more thoroughly assessed this way.
If you are a parent trying to see your child and you have findings made against you by a Judge, the consequences to your future relationship with your child can be serious.
Alternatively, if you are a parent who believes the other parent has harmed your child in the past, and you do not raise this properly within a court case, you risk more harm to your child in the future.
We would recommend always taking specialist legal advice when facing a fact-finding hearing. If you want to speak to one of our expert barristers, please get in touch.