Q: can my ex force me to go to NJ to fight for custody of our children if she had previously signed away custody in FL
my ex wife signed over custody of our children 4 years ago. now she's challenging custody from a different state, most likely to seek more money because she's now had 2 of our 3 children for a couple years and I voluntarily send her support checks. my main concern is that, despite signing off on custody in mediation, the judge's final decision may have not been handed down because of a billing dispute I had with my lawyer, that I subsequently discovered i was wrong about, but never addressed with her. I never saw a final judgement of custody in any way but I do have the paperwork with her singing off on custody.
4 years later, I don't actually know if I've ever been granted custody of them and 2 of our 3 children have now gone to live with her in NJ for a few years now, and now she's seeking custody of them in NJ. to add to these problems, I can't go to NJ because I apparently have a long standing warrant, most likely for fighting.
A: If the Florida court entered a final order, the New Jersey court doesn't have jurisdiction. Check the Florida court file (contact the clerk or look online) to see if the judgment is in there.
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