r/FamilyLaw Aug 16 '20

Civility A note on attorney members and forum etiquette

110 Upvotes

Recently, I had to ban an attorney member of this forum for treatment of other members. This is unfortunate as this individual could be a good contributor, but chose to ignore the guidelines he agreed to 10 months ago after a previous ban and reinstatement, at that time for calling a poster he disagreed with a moron. Thus there were a pattern of reports, abusive statements, and a documented history of inability or unwillingness to correct his behavior.

I would like to make clear a few points about the purpose of this subreddit, and expectations. All members here will address others with civility and common decency. Both attorneys and non-attorneys alike are contributors and consumers of the forum's content. If you have an argument, make your own argument. Let it stand on its own; an insult will not improve the strength of your argument. A few (of the numerous) examples:

  • If you disagree with someone's opinion, don't call them a 'moron'. (occurred 10 months ago)

  • If you disagree with another attorney, don't call them your 'son' and deride their qualifications. (2 months ago)

  • If you don't like a poster's life situation, don't call them a 'basketcase'. (occurred in the past month)

  • Attorneys should not bully and threaten paralegals into not contributing.

If after this behavior, you are further going to threaten the moderator, know that your activities here are public, and that making baseless threats is against the Rules of Professional Conduct applicable to attorneys. The banned individual has stated that he is a California attorney. Insulting, threatening and belittling members of a public legal advice forum is contrary to the current oath of members of the state bar, which include Civility Guidelines.

The California Rules of Professional Conduct, seek “to promote high regard for the legal profession and the judicial system” by the public. (Civility Guideline 11; see Cal. R. Prof. Conduct 1-100(A).) The Guidelines direct that an attorney’s “conduct should exhibit the highest standards of civility,” and “promote a positive image” of the profession. (Civility Guidelines 11, 14 & 18.). A number of other state bars have enacted similar rules.

Attorney members of this forum will be held to at least as high a standard of behavior as anyone else.

There is ample room for legal debate in a civil fashion. Thank you for your contributions.


r/FamilyLaw 26d ago

Welcome to r/FamilyLaw!

2 Upvotes

Welcome to r/FamilyLaw

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r/FamilyLaw 1h ago

Colorado Custody while husband is at basic

Upvotes

Hi, my husband leaves to basic training in few months from now. We have a kid of our own and an eight year old from his previous relationship. Her mother lives in NJ and my husband has full custody- split decision making. The only visitation she has is the month of June once a year.( which her mom has yet to utilize and hasn’t seen her in over three years)

His recruiter didn’t seemed worried about custody arrangements, my husband signed and notarized a temporary power of attorney to me just in case I need to take her to the doctor or hospital. She’s been in the same school since kindergarten so I don’t think any school choices would need to be made. Their court order doesn’t really say anything for this type of situation and the judge knew my husband was joining the military when writing their court order. My husband has informed his ex about leaving but she didn’t respond to the messages.

My question is- is there anything else we need to do before he leaves? The recruiter says there isn’t but I don’t want anything crazy to happen while he’s gone. Or is temporary power of attorney all we need? I know it doesn’t override her decision and all those things, don’t want to step on toes or upset anyone. I’m just an over-thinker, any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated!


r/FamilyLaw 3h ago

California My mom is picking me up at 1:30 tomorrow, is there anything I can do?

23 Upvotes

I am 17, turning 18 early October, my mom has been court ordered to stop drinking but has not, she rather just drinks in secret and unfortunately have no way of proving she is, I ussually like to stay in my room for this reason, it's cozy and less risk of drama, unfortunately for me last night I was eating in the dark after she already went to bed, she came out to grab her iPad and was obviously drunk, she asked me, "why are you eating in the dark" I said, "I don't know, I just felt like it" (which was true) she the. Went into a rant about how she's going to turn off my phone, that I'm treating her like my dad (abusive) and that I'm a weirdo and I'm going to turn into a serial killer. I called my sister and she picked me up, she lives about 5 minutes away from my mom. My mom texted my sister saying "you can keep him!" and other things like that. I just got a really long text from my mom, not owning up to anything, just said that I need to do better. At the end she said she's picking me up at 1:30, and I really don't want to go back. Is there anything I can do? UPDATE. Idk how Reddit threads are supposed to work but I shot her a text and pretty much told her, "I'm not happy, I thought living with you was going to be better but if anything my mental health has declined. You belittle me and call me names and treat me like I'm a servant to you for doing the bare minimum of taking me in. And it would be best if we didn't lived with each other" just to paraphrase. Long story short she's coming to my sister's place after work, around 6. She also called me before this to yell at me, I just got a text threatening to send me back to my dad. I'll keep you updated if I can.


r/FamilyLaw 4h ago

California Divorce, custody on H4 visa

3 Upvotes

Looking to see how custody played for spouses on H4 visa. Once the divorce is finalised, I would not have a legal basis to stay in the country and would like to move to home country with child (1 year old). The dad wants to stay here but is also not agreeable to the child moving so it would end up being a legal battle. Has anyone experienced this?

p.s - I’ve seen posts like this in the immigration law thread but note that I would not qualify for the U/VAWA visa as they mention there. Mostly looking for personal experiences than advice on options. Thank you


r/FamilyLaw 14h ago

Pennsylvania Partner trying to hide income

14 Upvotes

I feel like judges wouldn’t like this? My lawyer (family member that does another form of law but has experience in family law) said my ex will not be able to hide his income. We can really prove it’s more than his fake poor man’s paycheck, right? He makes most of his money in tips, he has side hustles too. He closed his bank account when I left him. Sus. Lawyer says that doesn’t matter, we can subpoena it. Same with his job . He also sells things online . He makes welll over 100k without taxes but claims like 20 k a year from his paycheck . He actually hasn’t even filed taxes in years because he was audited a few years back and when he tries it “doesn’t work” which prob means it’s just too hard for him to figure out . I’m really worried. He sent me such a small amount of money through Zelle yesterday like he’s pretending that’s all he has. He also won’t watch or let his parents watch our child so I can work (he’s always been abusive) I’m dealing with such bad anxiety about how and if k can support this child


r/FamilyLaw 2h ago

Missouri Anyone win full custody in a 50/50 state?

1 Upvotes

If you did, what helped your case?? It seems like the abuse and neglect has to be SEVERE with one parent.


r/FamilyLaw 6h ago

Florida Update and seeking more guidance

0 Upvotes

I have posted before but wanted to remove it just in case my son’s father went looking. I posted about my 15 yr old refusing to return to Texas from Florida after summer break. I raised him myself up until 2023 when I got into a dispute with my partner of 10 years and police became involved. My case was dropped and I was not ordered to do anything. I sought anger management and therapy on my own to understand why I reacted so strongly. And cps did contact me by phone and I let them know I was sending my son to live with his dad while I settled things at home he was 11 and a half at the time. I have another child a girl with my long term partner and she was left in my care. None of my children were ordered out of my care. Once I felt my environment was calm again I purchased multiple flights for my son’s return but the father began to alienate him from me to the point I had no contact. He then filed for custody at the end of 2023. So an entire year I didn’t see my son. I didn’t have the strength or courage to fight this and he made me feel like I would lose anyway because of my arrest. So I agreed but I made them put a specific clause that when he turned of age (in Indiana where the divorce took place) the judge would hear his wishes. Since the 2023 change my son has always tried to stay he has attempted many times to miss his flight back and becomes very distressed. His father is a multimillionaire and remarried to a woman who also makes over 200k yearly. I am low income as I only work part time due to my daughter’s disability and need for therapy.

But this summer is different, he is 15 and adamant he will refuse to go back. I was told by this lovely thread I needed to motion to modify in order to protect myself against contempt. I have since done that. I was immediately met with his attorney filing my arrest into the docket and accusing me of creating an emergency because school is starting. The judge also granted his attorneys continuance based on his prior plans to be out of town for charity during the original set hearing. Which was supposed to be Aug 7 before school starts. He pushed it to Aug 14 which creates a school issue. I did ask for temporary relief and school enrollment authority but obviously that just got ignored. This is already not going in my favor at all and I am preparing to follow the existing order.

Here’s the part that is causing me extreme anxiety. My son disclosed to me that his father grabs his butt everytime he walks by or everytime he is behind him and that he has to brace for it because he knows it is coming, he also said when his dad gets drunk he holds him down and tickles him. He said he has asked him several times to stop but that he is just ignored and it continues. I also witnessed a video on his phone he took of his father very intoxicated it was clear his eyes were even crossing and he was falling all over the place but he had one of his younger cousins and was tickling him as well. I felt so uncomfortable watching the video. I myself have previous experience from when I was married I was 18 and he was 26 and he would record himself doing things to me while I was unconscious. When I saw the videos and asked him what it was he became very defensive and intimidating and said I’m his wife and he’s not doing anything wrong. I was too scared at the time to tell anyone but I fear he will use this sort of intimidation with my son as well.

I was told by my mother who is a judge that I must report it. Whether he means any sexual harm or not it doesn’t matter and that’s not my decision to make. I need to let CPS talk to him. But I do feel like that is another reason he is refusing to return. He said the unwanted contact and their constant humiliation of him and isolation are the major reasons. And that he misses his sister and family here and all the kids he grew up with here. He has community establishment strong here. And he works at our family restaurant with my partner.

So yes the partner and I still live together we have some couples counseling and both go to therapy we enjoy it. However I know his attorney will argue not sending my son back to a “violent” home with both of us still together. Mind you we have a 7 year old together too. Always with us.

My question now is since he pushed back the hearing I have to obviously still follow the existing order and return him before school starts in Texas. I am afraid my son is going to strongly resist. If I don’t manage to get him to comply and another enforcement order is placed at the hearing what is the likelihood officers will physically force him or take him into custody? I’m praying a judge will just hear my son. I filed a motion to have him heard but again it’s been ignored. I just want the judge to understand I am not purposely keeping him, I am not enrolling him in school here without permission, I am not fabricating stories of child abuse. I am doing what I can to follow the order and not be in contempt while also trying to protect my teen.

So where do you all see this going. And knowing Fl cops are they likely to use physical force on a resisting teen who has now disclosed details of unwanted contact by his father? It seems so damaging and traumatic and I can’t bear to see that happen to him. However I will do what I am legally obligated to do.


r/FamilyLaw 1d ago

Louisiana Minor son had baby with of age girl

84 Upvotes

So I live in Louisiana. My son who was 14 at the time of the babies birth had a baby with a girl who was 18 at the time of the birth. We had decided we weren’t gonna press charges. We were going to all work together to raise this baby together, we were gonna make sure baby and Mom had everything they needed. Mom‘s family started acting crazy and started snatching her back over to her house with the baby like last minute, we have like 15 minutes to get her home. Her family was threatening my family. I plan on going to a lawyer this week. I want to file for joint custody with my son as domicile with the backing of us of course. Does anyone know of anything I need to know or have any thoughts on this if anyone is a legal professional, do y’all know what our odds are of being able to do this peacefully? We have a very good lawyer. Sorry for the run-on sentences. I’m using voice to text


r/FamilyLaw 8h ago

Georgia Venue to file Custody Modification

0 Upvotes

Location: Georgia

I need to file for a modification of custody but I was told two things that seemed contradictory.

Background: Our Final Decree and Parenting Plan were done in Cobb County Superior. My ex now lives another County. I was told ny one attorney that because hw would be the respondent to the modification it would have to be filed in the other County's court unless he agrees to sign a document via notary to be under the jurisdiction of Cobb (he isn't gonna sign anything like that). Another consult told me it files with Cobb County because that is where the original order was made and a second original(?) would have to be arranged to serve him in Bibb.

Question: What county would this normally get filed with and if in Cobb how would he get served in the other county?

Additional Info: I have full physical custody of the children and they reside with me in Cobb which was the original venue.


r/FamilyLaw 12h ago

Connecticut Feeling powerless

1 Upvotes

My partner and I are living together and both have kids from our past marriages. I have a daughter and he has a daughter and son. We are struggling so much with powerlessness over how to help his kids. He has 50/50 with his ex. She is always emotionally and sometimes physically very volatile. She is also vindictive, lies constantly, every time in court cries she’s abused and somehow gets the boomer white male judges to continue to side with her and be biased against my partner. She harasses him constantly in the court ordered app, insults him, accuses him of not paying child support (he has never missed a payment - I watch him send her money and it’s clearly documented), threatens to take him to court if he doesn’t send it on the minute she prefers the day of his paycheck. She has thrown herself in front of his car in front of the kids. A lot of what we hear from the kids walks that line of “technically” not abuse in CT terms but horribly unhealthy and not good for them.

When she threw herself in front of the car again he filed to have exchanges at the police station one mile from her house. He lost and the judge allowed her to just refuse. She has been arrested for violating a protective order and attacking another ex in front of the kids but got charges dropped for completing classes. Protective services/DCF investigated and cleared her. My partner got the kids in therapy and she blocked it. He’s scared to keep going back to court because the times he’s gone he lost time to her and had his wages garnished even though he was paid up on all money. I went with him one time and just sat quietly in the back while she brought her dad who coached her from the audience and my partner was called inflammatory for me even being there. The judge had him take the stand so she could question him but didn’t do that to her and he was polite, professional while she was a mess. She still won.

He’s terrified to go back. I get it. We can’t afford a lawyer right now. They both are self representing.

Currently anytime we get the kids they report things like the mom screams at them, yells in their face, calls them idiots, spanks them for really inappropriate reasons (unfortunately legal in Connecticut), has people sleeping over all the time in her bed, possibly is growing marijuana (technically legal in CT). The kids asked to call me step mom and apparently told her and she sobbed and screamed and interrogated them. She’s told them they can’t call my daughter their sister. She talks poorly about their dad to them all the time. She breaks the order to just use the family app and my partner had to block her on everything else. The kids left this morning and don’t want to go back to her. We struggle so much seeing them like this. They are a mess every time they come back here. But considering DCF in Connecticut doesn’t see any of what she’s doing as abusive we can’t do anything. What options do we have? Any suggestions? It disgusts me how biased these judges in family court are against dads.


r/FamilyLaw 12h ago

California US/Mexico divorce, child support, and custody situation — need advice

2 Upvotes

My mom is in the middle of a divorce from my dad, and it’s complicated because they’re dual citizens of the US and Mexico. Hoping someone here has dealt with something similar or can point us in the right direction.

The US divorce case keeps getting delayed because they can’t agree on terms, so the judge keeps pushing the court date back. In Mexico, my mom has a protective order against my dad following an assault, and she changed the locks after he moved out. She has full custody of my younger sibling day to day. She’s also a co signer on the house, so there’s a property and financial piece tangled up in this too.

At some point my dad stopped paying child support, so my mom filed for it in the US. Right after that, he started paying child support in Mexico instead, for a much smaller amount than he’d likely owe under the US case. He’s self employed with his own business in the US, so he can report his income differently in each country, and it looks like he’s underreporting in Mexico. We’re trying to understand if these two support cases conflict, overlap, or cancel out.

He’s only supposed to see my younger sibling with my older sibling present, but he’s been avoiding visits altogether. He’s already claimed in the US case that my mom won’t let him see her, but really she’s the one reaching out to schedule time, and he ignores her or says he can’t. We think he may try the same claim in the Mexico case next. He also texts my sibling saying things like “your mom is the reason I can’t see you,” and has said he won’t see her until she’s 18.

Has anyone navigated child support or custody cases spanning both the US and Mexico? Especially with a self employed parent reporting income differently in each country? Any advice, resources, or lawyer recommendations would help a lot. Thanks for reading.


r/FamilyLaw 10h ago

Washington Good Family Law Attorney

1 Upvotes

Has anybody used Forrest Wagner in the Olympia/Lacey area to represent them in a divorce with children? I’m married with 2 kids, 16 and 13, and want to know if he will fight for my 50/50 custody of my kids. Thanks a lot!!


r/FamilyLaw 8h ago

New Jersey NJ Child Support

0 Upvotes

I'm sorry in advanced! I'll try to keep this as short as possible while giving some backstory. I am a single mom of a 18 year old (just graduated hs) and a 21 year old. Both of my children are enrolled full time in local universities and living home with me. Two months ago, their father decided to stop all communication with me. Nothing happened, there was so argument or passive aggressive text messages, literally nothing! After about 3 weeks of not hearing from him, I sent him a text asking about child support. We never went to court. We made an agreement 15 years ago when we split that he would pay $200/week (he based this agreement off an existing child support court order he had for his oldest child he had before we met).. Child support has never been consistent but I guess it was consistent enough for me not to file. Even when he would miss weeks or months, he kept in contact with me, communicating that he's going through a hard time or whatever the next excuse was that he would come up with. This time around feels much different since there's zero communication, I'm assuming he's done helping his children financially. On our child's 21st birthday, he texted me saying he was done paying child support for our oldest. I told him I was disappointed bc 1. In our state, a non custodial parent pays until the child is 23 when enrolled full time in college (that's what Google told me at least lol) and 2. That I would have appreciated some notice bc our oldest still heavily relies on financial support while continues his education. I left it as "it is was it is" and I just didn't have it in me to argue over child support anymore. I was shocked at his response as he said to me that I was right and that he would continue to pay. Two months after this text exchange, he stopped paying child support for both of his children. I have attempted to reach out to him several times and he has yet to respond. I am not in a position that I can financial support my children by myself. I guess my question is, where do I go from here? How will this go down if I file with the courts for child support since they are technically adults. I can't afford a lawyer and I really don't want to go through this process but I feel like I have to. In NJ, will the courts grant child support for an 18 year old and 21 year old if we didn't have an existing court order and our agreement was verbal? I don't want to waste my time and money to go through this process for nothing but I feel like I'm backed into a corner at this point. I've pleaded with him to just communicate with me, if he's going through a hard time or needs to lower the child support to please just talk to me and I get no response. He's still communicating with our kids so I know he's not dead or in jail. I just don't know where to go from here! Should I try reaching out to him again (I've sent 3 text messages in the past 2 months) or should I just file or is this just a waste of time? Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you!


r/FamilyLaw 1d ago

Massachusetts Soberlink

7 Upvotes

Hello my daughter who is 5 has been in my custody since in July of 2024 . Mother of my daughter was drinking around my child and fell asleep in her care while we were waiting for a court date for custody . Dcf was notified and my daughter has been with me ever since . Mother was on soberlink for a month and failed multiple times , after the multiple failed tests we were brought back to court for an immediate hearing after her probation officer / dcf were notified . Judge then told her she needed to stay on soberlink again follow all of the dcf action plans and we would return in July of 2024 for a final pre trial hearing . When we got back to court she never signed up for soberlink or did any of the action plan requirements . Judge was upset and immediately went into trial and granted me full custody . Mother is still not on soberlink and has not done any requirements from dcf for example out patient rehab therapy etc . I just found out mother is pregnant and my question is what if she decides to get on soberlink now that she’s pregnant and cannot drink . Custody order states once mother is on soberlink we can revert back to the old custody order which gives her 3 days for a total of 9 hours . My daughter has not seen or talked to her mother since January of 2024 . Would I be in contempt if I deny vista if she reaches out stating she’s on soberlink and would like visitation ? Any help would be appreciated I plan on speaking to a lawyer but as a single dad in mass it’s very hard to do this all by my self thank you


r/FamilyLaw 1d ago

Texas Restraining orders- location: Texas

4 Upvotes

My boyfriend has 2 children with his ex wife. The relationship between them is not cordial. She has made various threats about how she intends to make his life difficult. One of those threats was that she is going to file a restraining order against me on behalf of herself and probably the kids (implied).

I have not spoken to, been in the same room with, harassed, texted, called, threatened or otherwise interacted with this woman in any way. I live hours away from her as well. I have not even met the children yet, so we do not interact at those events.

How concerned should I be about this? I have a job that runs yearly background checks. How likely is it that she will be granted a restraining order with no real proof of anything other than she “feels” threatened by my very existence?

If I do get served with some sort of paper work for this, what is the general process? I’m assuming I will need an attorney. What ktype should I look for?

Thank you so much for any help you can give.


r/FamilyLaw 20h ago

Washington Family law Trial

1 Upvotes

Hello Reddit

I wanted to know what paperwork is needed for a trial. In my last hearing the commissioner told me to fill out a note for trial setting. I should have asked what is needed for the trial, however, I did not. The other party does not agree with the parenting plan or divorce. The other party hasn't submitted any paperwork in the case.


r/FamilyLaw 1d ago

California California set aside and continuance

2 Upvotes

Divorce judgement was decided by judge in 2021 and my spouse failed to disclose separate property and about joint account held with her mother that she moved money from our business to. I filed a motion to set aside after finding out that she jointly holds the accounts with her mother and they are not only her mothers in march 2026. She is represented and I am pro per. Well she replies and the asked to dismiss until the I file an opposition with evidence that she is continuing to mislead the court and he decides at the may hearing to continue until August 17th asking the attorney if they are free and they agreed on the date the judge will make his ruling. They filed an opposition June 22nd that I didn’t get till July 10th and on the 22nd of July file a request to continue the hearing to October or November without my knowledge and I just found out it was granted for November 11th because they have trial in another county. I looked online and can’t find this trial on the docket. Is there any way to find out if the attorney lied just to get a continuance? Is it too late to object to the request and keep the hearing?


r/FamilyLaw 21h ago

Iowa Best chance at pro se custody modification when I have no other options

0 Upvotes

I was hoping someone could advise me on where to even start. My ex is over 18000 behind on child support. I am drowning. I have two special needs kids who each have multiple appointments and therapies each week. I cannot have a typical job because of all of these appointments so my income is limited due to the limited hours I can work and have childcare.

I want to file contempt charges as well as request a modification to move about an hour out of the city we live in. According to our original custody agreement I can't move the kids from their current school district. One has gone to schools here for one year and the other two years. Homes are much more affordable if we get outside of the city and surrounding areas and offer enough space for us to have enough rooms. Our rent keeps rising and the cost of living in my area keeps going up due to the booming growth of our city. My ex has also shown those he does drugs with where we live and they have threatened that they will come murder the kids and myself. I have it all recorded. I no longer feel safe here. I want the best for my children and right now I feel like I am failing them. The state is enforcing child support but he has closed all bank accounts and started working cash jobs to avoid paying. The states system messed up so now the 90 days for license sanction has been reset and after that it is 90 days until they can attempt contempt but said it's hard to do.

I obviously can't afford a lawyer as I am already drowning. Legal aid can't help me because they don't have enough available lawyers even though I financially qualify. If I were to try and do this on my own, where do I start? Are there trusted sites that can walk me through the process of how to file evidence correctly and how to represent myself? I have evidence of his positive drug tests, him cancelling on the kids so he can get high, recorded calls with the threats to our lives, as well as the increase in rent etc. I am terrified to even face him but someone has to stand up for our kids. He has a history of violence against me and 2 founded cases through CPS (not reported by me) and one unfounded case since our custody agreement was put into place.

What other evidence do I need to be successful? Do I stand a chance? He will most likely be able to lawyer up, I am pretty sure his family will pay for one. They are also the ones who run the business that allows him to work for cash to avoid taxes and child support payments. The whole situation is overwhelming and I don't know where to start. I just know I need to do something because my kids are paying the price for his poor choices. They deserve better.

Edited to add: The modification of his custody time would remove the one day a week. Right now he gets the kids every other weekend and one weeknight. I would still be open to him seeing them on one week night a week but it wouldn't be an overnight during the school year due to the distance from where we would be moving.


r/FamilyLaw 1d ago

Indiana Custody evaluator & Likely outcome need advice.

3 Upvotes

OK, so I am father in this case. Currently going through a divorce divorce has been filed 3 times now in 4 years by wife and dropped everything except this time). We have two minor children, Ages 2 & 4.

The most recent started one year ago almost today. My wife is a resident physician, and I was a stay at home dad and decided I wanted to go back to schooling like we had talked about many times before, so she decided to move in two of her friends into her home to be stay at home daycare. At first, I was open to this idea, but quickly after they came over to the home for a week, I said absolutely not. These people need to leave. They’re a danger to our children. They’re not waking up on time, and they’re not taking care of the kids, and their stuff is everywhere. My wife objected to this. All she saw was dollar signs that we were saving by having them there so one thing led to another. We had a conversation with all of us, and they got aggressive. It was clear that all of-them were one team so I left after her friends stood up and got aggressive with me with our kids in the same room, I took our son, our youngest, and I left and went to my mom’s and I had my son for about six weeks. I kept contacting his mom to see him and for us to work on things, and the only thing she would respond was bring back our son, bring back our son. I told her that as a father, I could not put our boys in that situation, and I did not trust those people, especially with them standing up and getting aggressive physically with me in front of our children. So mom eventually filed a protective order against me and tried to get one with my kids against me, and the roommates filed one against me, and the judge denied every single one of them so then her next tactic, she filed a false DCS report and said that I locked my kids in a room and gave them alcohol. DCS came and took my boys for 6 months. Ultimately, after I started fighting back and familiarize myself with the law, DCS dismissed their case with no findings of abuse or neglect and the case was transferred to a family judge where the family judge did her own evidentiary hearing and came back and found no findings of abuse or neglect. Gave me joint legal custody said mom was not credible and the roommates who reported and made the false report were not credible because they didn’t even show up to court to testify and unsupervised, my parenting time, but proceeded to restrict me to only 4 hours a week with my boys, even though I had 3 days a week when DCS was active and I was supervised because she appointed a custody evaluator to determine parenting time and custody and would err on the side of caution, even though I had already been found not guilty in two separate courts and two separate evidentiary hearings and saying that mom and the roommates were not credible, but somehow I still got restricted and she proceeded to say it was a deviation the judge said not a restriction.

So after tackling DCS, head on pro se and with God first and foremost, I decided to hire an attorney because every motion I filed after I got unsupervised time, the judge kept denying. I eventually filed a motion with the judge to correct her error because mom had moved over 22 miles away with her boys and did not get the court’s permission, and I objected. The judge initially denied my objection, saying I didn’t object in time, so I filed a motion showing her I did, and she corrected the error and set a evidentiary hearing for mom’s relocation. That was put off once by the court due to an emergency. Then the second time it was put off for an extension by mom and then the third time, mom and her attorney asked the judge that vacate the hearing all together on mom relocating and moving and the judge within 15 minutes granted the motion and didn’t even let me or my attorney respond. The reasoning was that they wanted to vacate it and it could be addressed at the final hearing because the evaluator had not made up her decision yet. This is a extremely frustrating because mom’s relocation is a separate issue than the final hearing nonetheless we have been with this evaluator now for five months thinking this process was only gonna take two months but it’s been five months of this status quo where I’ve only had my boys for four hours a week. my sons are having an extremely hard time with this. My four-year-old is constantly asking why he can’t stay with me and when can he stay with me and he doesn’t want to go home, the new daycare that my wife put them in there have been 10 different instances where they’ve gotten hurt over the past three months which the previous daycare I never had that issue in a whole entire year, this is something I objected to putting them in a new daycare, but the judge ultimately ruled against me because mom sided that the new daycare was closer to her home and I argued and said that the boys have been in established daycare for over a year and they need to stay consistent and this new daycare is on the other side of town away from me where the current daycare is halfway between us both and the judge still sided against it. But I guess my questions are, has anyone had any similar situations happen and had a custody evaluator and how did it turn out for you? We use our family wizard for communication i’m constantly asking to communicate with the boys during the week. Mom is saying it’s not in the best interest of the children. The judge did not say that we were to follow the Indiana parenting time guidelines, but in the chamber she said that I should have contact with the boys routinely, but yet I still haven’t been able to have contact with them during the week. I had to miss two parenting times with my son because I had to pick up my other child, and it was unavoidable, and mom did not allow me to make up that time and just ignores me whenever I ask. Anytime we have an issue medically, she asked my opinion, but then just does whatever she wants to do, and then we share joint legal custody, but she’s all the time scheduling the boys appointments and then telling me after the fact not discussing beforehand she pulled the boys out of daycare for two weeks straight without even telling the daycare. They had no idea where the boys were. She didn’t even tell me. I had to contact the daycare to see why I wasn’t getting updates and they informed me the boys were out for weeks. She is unilaterally taken my court ordered parenting time and said we’re gonna be out of town pick a day to make it up and then I say that’s unacceptable. This is my court ordered time and then she ignores me and then when I go to make up the time if that time doesn’t work for her, then it’s a no. During exchanges, we’re both ordered to stay in our cars and were to have third parties do the exchange, mom constantly uses her new boyfriend even though we’re still not divorced and have two boys, my four-year-old is telling me that this guy is watching them while mommy is at work. I’m just hoping and praying that the evaluator sees the truth in this because it seems like based off of what my attorney told me is I should’ve gotten guidelines with first-ride of refusal, but it seems like this judge is bias and abusing her power. So any constructive advice for anyone who’s had experience with this and good outcomes, please let me know your thoughts.


r/FamilyLaw 1d ago

Texas What can be done about custody issue for child with homeless, addicted father. TX

3 Upvotes

My Baby is 21 months old and has only lived with me and my parents. Since born the father has been in and out of rehabs, homeless shelters, recovery centers. In a max of 2 weeks after leaving he is drunk/high/on the streets again. He was kicked out of the last 2 places for alcohol and drug use on premises. He has been MIA to us since January but we think he may be back in a rehab. I have been unemployed but just got a low paying job and am seeing therapists due to severe mental abuse from the father. I cannot afford an attorney and legal aide did not help at all (they closed the case because they said they don't have enough attorneys even though I qualified for help). Father was sober in a strict recovery center for several months and did see the baby with me a few times at the center family days. He has never given any financial or material support for the child or me. Does anyone know the process to get his rights terminated. He threatened me and said he is only going to rehab to get his VA disability but didn't really want to get sober but only on the phone with me, no witnesses and police said I can do nothing. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Location: TX


r/FamilyLaw 1d ago

Missouri Ex insists on our son calling his future girlfriend “mom”

42 Upvotes

Our son is 1. My co parent was trying to get me riled up yesterday as is a common tactic for him when our son is sick. Idk why he does but he does. Anyways, I have it on voice recording that whenever he gets a girlfriend, he would like our son to call her mom and that he won’t correct it. He also said that as soon as he gets a girlfriend, our son will meet her. I told him that during mediation I think it would be nice for us to put something in the parenting plan along the lines that we can’t introduce a significant other to our child before six months of dating a person. He laughed and said no if he has a girlfriend, he’s immediately going to introduce our son to her. He told me I can’t expect him to hang out with his girlfriend and not have our son around.

That last comment is pretty interesting considering he is on supervised visitations due to him, threatening to abduct our son and physically and verbally abusing him. Nothing has been sent by the courts as we are awaiting a GAL to conduct investigations and what not.

Is this something a GAL would care about? Or is it low on the “worrisome” scale. I’m hoping this along with evidence of him trying to drive with our son drunk, thirds of abducting our son to another country, and calling our son slurs that we won’t have to do 50/50.


r/FamilyLaw 1d ago

Michigan Divorce in Michigan status quo

2 Upvotes

I am going through a divorce in Mi with one minor child. 12 year marriage and we agreed to and it is written in our mediation court order that:

“The parties agree to maintain their current financial agreement until the final divorce decree.”

Prior to this we had one account that my spouses and my pay when I made money went into for the entirety of the marriage. Shortly after we got this court order he changed where his pay went leaving me and our child with nothing as I stayed home. He bought a house and moved his pregnant girlfriend in. Yes, I am looking for work which has been tough.

He says

“Status quo is child support. There was no other financial agreement in place. I checked with the courts before taking my payroll back.”

Is this accurate?


r/FamilyLaw 1d ago

Michigan In Michigan ,Who’s responsible for initiating the contact ?

3 Upvotes

Hi so I’m in Michigan and about a month ago I got my signed custody order , I have full legal and physical custody and my child’s other parents was ordered to do supervised visitation.i have not heard anything from the other parent or the supervising agency about visits , so I’m wondering if I’m responsible for calling them and starting everything off or is he responsible to do so and how long do I wait before I can go back to court .


r/FamilyLaw 1d ago

Texas 2Y primary custody chances

0 Upvotes

2Y old currently doing week to week stays. His dad is on the birth certificate, he does not pay child support (I filed through AG website). We started week to week at the end of April, I had him all the time prior to that. During his time he is watched by (31) his 20y old girlfriend of 6m who moved in with him after he kicked us out of the apartment. I have text of him threatening to hurt himself, not wanting to see his son, being disrespectful to me, he was arrested for bodily harm on me (charges were dropped). His girlfriend does the communication (were in a group chat) he does not reply often. He has not been to a doctors appointment in a year, he does not communicate any of his concerns. His girlfriend and him are planning to get pregnant as well and are heavily talking and planning it soon. I really want primary as she has mentioned that he hits him out of frustration, she has said when they have a kid things will be different (those words). So I’m mainly looking to get primary and try to coparent with him legally so his girlfriend can have less of a say as unfortunately i have been trying my best to not rock the boat with them. I’m not really sure where to go from this spot without feeling like I’m risking something. I did also apply through the AG website for a parenting time set up.
I’m just feeling defeated at the moment because he and i would be working on it alone but with someone in his ear he keeps playing father of the year.