Lake Forest, CA asked in Child Custody, Divorce and Family Law for Illinois

Q: I am wondering what I can do to maintain my relationship with my step-children now that I do not have custody of them.

I left ex-spouse last March w/ my two children and her two from her previous marriage(I had raised them since they were not even 1/2, and they are now 7/8). I got emergency custody orders of my children, and was able to call the bio father of the other two so he could come and get them and keep them safe since I had no legal rights at that point to keep her from coming to get them. In court, my ex admitted to abuse/neglect and I have continued to have sole custody. Myself and my children were allowed to facetime the other kids on occasion, the bio father has since stopped allowing facetimes for me. We have an extremely close relationship and they are very attached to me. The last time I saw them they did not want to leave me, and I always feel the same and miss them every day. Wondering if, because of the nature of our relationship and how close we are, there is anything I can do legally for visits? I am in CA, they are in IL. I am thinking weekly facetime and a couple summer weeks.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.