CSA Solicitor

londonsurfer

I am contesting a case with the CSA. I live in London and have been trying for the past month to find a solicitor who will represent me. I have spoken to at least 30 solicitors who have said they don’t work on cases involving the CSA. I am unemployed and on Job Seekers Allowance so I am eligible for legal aid. I’m due to appear in court shortly. Can anyone recommend a good solicitor with experience of CSA cases?

kelloggs36

Stephen Lawson, although depending on what the issue is, he may or may not take the case. What is your issue? You may find some on here able to offer help and advice - for free. Also, try NACSA it is much better value for money and they deal exclusively with CSA issues - the max cost to you would be £40 per year and they are excellent. No, I have no dealings with them so have no reason to endorse their service!! Try us and NACSA - if you still get nowhere, try Stephen Lawson from Foreshaws in Cheshire.

pd001

londonsurfer wrote: »

I am contesting a case with the CSA. I live in London and have been trying for the past month to find a solicitor who will represent me. I have spoken to at least 30 solicitors who have said they don’t work on cases involving the CSA. I am unemployed and on Job Seekers Allowance so I am eligible for legal aid. I’m due to appear in court shortly. Can anyone recommend a good solicitor with experience of CSA cases?

As kelloggs36 says NACSA are very good for general info and very cheap to join.

Again as kelloggs36 says, Stephen Lawson has been mentioned on here a few times.
He is supposed to be very good when it comes to all matters CSA. I have read on these forums that he will give you an estimate of his charges at the beginning.
Probably not cheap

There is another firm called Durham Legal Services and I have only heard mixed reviews about them.
No idea about their charges, probably not cheap

There is another firm called Child Support Solutions who are in Birmingham.
They specialise in all matters CSA related and charge a monthly fee.
Probably not cheap.

The above are the main people/companies/solicitors who specialise in dealing with the CSA. Google them all and see what you think

londonsurfer

Thanks for your replies. I am disputing parentage. I have applied to the family court about this. I don’t have much money so I am cautious about solicitors. The only solicitor who I came across previously simply seemed to try to obtain as much money for their company via legal aid. I spoke to both Durham and Child Support Solutions and I question whether they are simple after a fee. And they won’t take a case under legal aid. Thanks for the advice about Stephen Lawson. I’ll try calling him. Can the CSA pursue you indefinitely about a case? I hadn’t heard anything from the CSA for a long time (years) and then out of the blue I have to go to court. I must also say I sometimes wonder about what’s the point with the CSA. If you cooperate with them they only seem to make your life a misery. And at the end of the day I don’t have any money if I did I wouldn’t be signing on! I know this reply has turned into a bit of a rant, I apologise, but it seems to me in all cases they should perform a DNA test at the outset given the supposed 1 in 5 cases they pursue the wrong person! It must waste so much time and money.

pd001

londonsurfer wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. I am disputing parentage. I have applied to the family court about this. I don’t have much money so I am cautious about solicitors.

Well use the people on here, and their expertise! As kelloggs36 said in a post above...it's free!
Most of the advice given on here is good stuff.
You do get the odd person who will judge you and your circumstances but there ain't many of them. If they pop up just ignore them.

So, where to start? It seems you are disputing the parentage and that you are not working so have little money to employ a solicitor.
That is a starting point.

kelloggs36 and Mr GG and others.......away you go!

londonsurfer

Yes, this website together with words of advice from friends has been a godsend. This gives you a sense of reality rather than getting down about the CSA. After all it can’t last forever!

kelloggs36

So what has happened? You must have been sent a form or a received a phonecall initially to ask if you accept parentage of certain children. What happened? What exactly are you disputing? At the time, did you deny parentage? Did you not receive the forms? If not, can you prove that you had moved and did not receive the post from them? If you were in correspondence with the CSA at the time and then moved, you may find it difficult to get a case overturned if you didn't tell them of a new address. I am just making some assumptions here as I have no ideas on the facts of you case - if you either PM me or post them on here I will be able to advise a bit better. They are at liberty to assume parentage under certain circumstances, so unless you state what the circumstances are, it is impossible to say whether you have a case or not. Also, if they have assumed in the correct circumstances then they only way to get it overturned, is to get a legal declaration of non-parentage, or to provide evidence of non-parentage by way of a private DNA test which is approved by the CSA.

londonsurfer

I disputed parentage at the outset, but they insisted I complete the form and cooperate otherwise they would deduct money from my earnings. I was also worried it would affect my work, which it did. Dealing with all the continual hassle of the CSA meant I missed important deadlines and lost my job. Between then and now (over ten years ago) I have been either homeless, living with friends, family or a place where the DHSS paid.

Once I completed the original form they ignored my dispute regarding parentage. And once again in my recent correspondence even when I sent recorded delivery letters disputing parentage they have ignored them. At court they tried to have me committed to prison, but the magistrates said I should start the process of resolving parentage. I have contacted the family court regarding declaration of non-parentage. The next stage will be a DNA test (at a CSA approved testing centre), which I am arranging. I will forward the DNA test to the CSA and wait for the CSA to contact the mother and child to do the same. I must say I do regret cooperating in the first place!