Advise Mark. (Note to candidates: your answer does not need to consider special guardianship or adoption...

 

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Advise Mark. (Note to candidates: your answer does not need to consider special guardianship or adoption issues). Last month, Mark pleaded guilty and was convicted of the manslaughter of his wife Paula and sentenced to a minimum eight years' imprisonment. Mark and Paula have a child, Sarah, who is now four years old. Immediately after Paula's death, Sarah was taken in by Paula's closest friend, Diane, and her husband Tim. Diane and Tim have their own child, Erica, who is the same age as Sarah and the two children have always been very close. Mark recently informed Diane and Tim that he was going to start sending letters and gifts to Sarah and he asked Diane and Tim to accept them and explain them to her. Diane and Tim are not prepared to do this, however. They feel that it would be completely inappropriate, at any rate until Sarah is much older, when she can decide for herself whether to have contact with her father. In addition, Diane and Tim now want to change Sarah's surname (which is currently that of Mark) to match their family name, as Sarah and Erica are soon to begin school together. They also would like Sarah's status as living with them put on a more secure footing. They have communicated all of this to Mark. Advise Mark. (Note to candidates: your answer does not need to consider special guardianship or adoption issues). Last month, Mark pleaded guilty and was convicted of the manslaughter of his wife Paula and sentenced to a minimum eight years' imprisonment. Mark and Paula have a child, Sarah, who is now four years old. Immediately after Paula's death, Sarah was taken in by Paula's closest friend, Diane, and her husband Tim. Diane and Tim have their own child, Erica, who is the same age as Sarah and the two children have always been very close. Mark recently informed Diane and Tim that he was going to start sending letters and gifts to Sarah and he asked Diane and Tim to accept them and explain them to her. Diane and Tim are not prepared to do this, however. They feel that it would be completely inappropriate, at any rate until Sarah is much older, when she can decide for herself whether to have contact with her father. In addition, Diane and Tim now want to change Sarah's surname (which is currently that of Mark) to match their family name, as Sarah and Erica are soon to begin school together. They also would like Sarah's status as living with them put on a more secure footing. They have communicated all of this to Mark.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

Answer Diane and Tims decision not to facilitate contact between Mark and Sarah at this time is unde... View the full answer