Q: My sons father made me sign papers his lawyer drew up stating I can’t leave the state with my son. Can I fix that?
He hasn’t been present up until right before my son turned 2. He was verbally and physically abusive before I was pregnant. While I was pregnant he chose to drink and drive, bad mouth me and many other things. He never takes his son now like he’s suppose to. He doesn’t pay any child support.
A: Consult with a local family law attorney to get your options - this is likely an easy fix. You should consider, just presenting your case as someone who wants to move. There's no need to say things like 'he made you sign papers' - most attorneys will think you are lying at worst or mistaken at best - neither is good for your case and even if it were true (and hopefully it is not) it is likely irrelevant. Also as is characterizing him solely as an abusive, bad mouthing drunk. It not really necessary to accomplish what you want and could backfire on you. While that tactic may work to get say family and friends on your side, it will likely have the opposite effect on legal personnel like attorneys and Judges. What you likely think you are doing is making him look bad and garnering sympathy for yourself - what you are actually potentially doing when you say things like that to legal personnel is giving the impression that you are the type of person who can be manipulated to do things and are a simple victim who allows someone to do these types of things to her - basically a weak person who ought not be trusted to have the care and custody of a child let alone leave the state with the child. That is not an image you want to convey. Best of luck.
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