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New Hampshire Child Custody Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody, Constitutional Law and Gov & Administrative Law for New Hampshire on
Q: How much time does NH DCYF have to produce case records once requested in writing by a valid authorized person?
James L. Arrasmith
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James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Mar 21, 2024

If you're seeking access to case records from the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), it's important to know the process and time frames involved. The rules around this are set to protect the privacy and welfare of the children involved, while also providing... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, DUI / DWI, Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: mywifes friend was in car accident,kids in car.all ok police found paraphrenalia and siezed car.can they take kids?

she has no recollection ,asnd her ex boyfriend allegedly got a call that dcyf is taking kids tomorrow.no one will speak to her.its sunday,happened sat.what can she do?

T. Augustus Claus
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T. Augustus Claus pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Dec 12, 2023

Your wife should take immediate steps in response to the complex situation.

If the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) gets involved, she should cooperate fully, answering questions honestly and maintaining politeness.

It's crucial to gather relevant documents,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: Can you get guardianship of a family member (baby nephew), if both family member and parent agrees, without a hearing!
Joseph Caulfield
Joseph Caulfield
answered on Nov 7, 2023

I'm confused by your question.

The family member who "agrees" is a baby nephew? How old?

A parent also agrees. What about the other parent?

No, a court would not grant a guardianship without a hearing.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: My childrens father moved out of NH to GA and left me with the children how long before I can go for full custody.

We were never married never been to court.I’ve always been the primary provider for the children.He rarely reaches out to them since he’s been gone and isn’t providing any type of support.

Matthew D. Minuti
Matthew D. Minuti
answered on Apr 14, 2022

Assuming NH is the home state of you and the children, you don't need to wait! You would be filing a parenting petition seeking sole decision-making responsibility and residential responsibility for the children. Because the children are exclusively your responsibility, you may also want to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: I don’t believe I need a GAL that the court assigned...

The court is appointing a GAL and I can’t afford it, and I’m not sure I need one, we were never married/divorced..there is no issue with the bio dad he left and was never heard from until I contacted him regarding this, he has his life and I have mine we just want to terminate his rights and he... View More

Joseph Caulfield
Joseph Caulfield
answered on Dec 13, 2019

The statute requires it.

File a motion & see if the court will ordere the state to pay the GAL.

I'm a GAL, as well as a lawyer.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: Is alcoholism grounds for loss of child custody?

Husband is intoxicated and unsafe with children but refuses to leave home. What do I do? I am afraid he will get partial custody if i take it to court and I'm terrified of my kids being in his care while under the influence

Israel Piedra
Israel Piedra
answered on May 28, 2019

That would certainly be a factor in a custody (parenting) determination. However, courts tend to want both parents involved in the children's lives. Without documented abuse, it is difficult to fully terminate parental rights. If the alcoholism is well documented (arrests for DUI, etc.), you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: If a parent has no job or "home" of their own, does parenting time still continue, even with overnights?

Child' father lost his job and kicked out of where he was staying. Started living with his mother while trying to find a new job and a new place to live. He is supposed to have our child overnight every other weekend. Does this change now that he doesn't not have a place of his own? What... View More

Christine G. DeBernardis
Christine G. DeBernardis
answered on Feb 1, 2019

If the child has a "sleeping space," (own bed or area to sleep, but most preferably a bedroom), the Court may still permit the parenting time to continue. Many people lose jobs or fall into bad situations and live with a relative. If this is weekend parenting time, the Court is more... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: Do I have to respond to my daughters emails or texts demanding what we do with her son . If her visits were terminated

Her visits were terminated 1 1/2 years ago. I've had legal guardianship of him since he was 5 1/2 months he is almost 5. The only home he has ever known is with my husband and I

Joseph Kelly Levasseur
Joseph Kelly Levasseur
answered on Nov 5, 2018

You do not have to respond but it may depend on the written court decision for the guardianship. It may state in the decision what types of contact the mother can or cannot have. Read it carefully. Just keep in mind that generally speaking, courts prefer allowing some types of contact with the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Domestic Violence for New Hampshire on
Q: I want to move out of state from an abusive father of my 8 year old. What are my options?
Amy C. Connolly
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Amy C. Connolly
answered on May 30, 2018

You should report the abuse to DCYF and obtain a protective order. You should seek court approval prior to moving out of state.

1 Answer | Asked in Domestic Violence, Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: my ex girlfriend was just arrested for domestic violence against her mother, can I get full custody of my son?

I have primary custody of my 6 year old son and my ex girlfriend has visitation 3 weekends a month. My ex girlfriend lives with her mother and was just arrested for becoming belligerent and throwing things through windows. My friend lives next door to her and has also said that she believes my ex... View More

Amy C. Connolly
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Amy C. Connolly
answered on May 30, 2018

You can file an ex parte motion to temporarily prevent parenting time with the mother so long as you can show that your son will suffer irreparable harm or injury if the relief requested is not granted. You would file this motion by going to the family court where your parenting plan was issued.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: How to do I submit a modification to a parenting plan

My ex girlfriend has agreed to let me move to another state with my son as she also believes it is in his best interest. I would like to have the parenting plan modified to show that.

Amy C. Connolly
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Amy C. Connolly
answered on May 30, 2018

You would file a new parenting plan, that can be found on the court's website. You would need to outline the new routine schedule you have agreed upon. The court should approve the agreement and you will receive a copy of the new parenting plan once it is approved.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: I have majority parenting time, I want to move with my son back to my home state. How likely is the court to allow this?

I have maintained majority parenting time of my son for about 3 years now. I moved to NH to be with my son originally. My entire family (parents, 7 siblings, 5 neices and nephews) are all in my home state of KY. I want to move back to be closer to them. If we made an arrangement for her to take him... View More

Amy C. Connolly
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Amy C. Connolly
answered on May 2, 2018

In order to relocate you have to give the other parent 60 days notice of your intent to move. If the other parent objects, the court will need to decide if (1) if the move is for a legitimate purpose; (2) if the move is in the children's best interest. In general, the court will not favor... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Divorce, Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: Is it OK for my GAL to forward our private email's to the opposing counsel without my permission?

I was having a back and forth email conversation with my GAL. In the emails I was discussing a proposed parenting plan that I have been working on. My GAL decided to forward our conversation, including the draft of my parenting plan to the opposing counsel, stating that "the other counsel... View More

Joseph Caulfield
Joseph Caulfield
answered on May 1, 2018

Unless you've agreed to something else in the GAL Stipulation, the GAL's file is open to both parties, meaning everything can be obtained.

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for New Hampshire on
Q: If a 3yr old child resides in Pa with mother BirthC is blank and the potential father is nh where does DNA take place
Amy C. Connolly
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Amy C. Connolly
answered on May 2, 2018

If the child has live in PA for more than 6 months, that is the child's home state so paternity would be determined in PA. I hope this helps.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: Parenting plan in place. Ex & lawyer have said that I'm allowed a 15 mile move, if I go 5 mi. over that am I in contempt

Parenting plan a year in place, I could not afford a lawyer- he could. I filed the petition because he changed his days/weeks with our daughter all the time and refused to help financially with anything. His lawyer now has him paying half of day care a month, but he's still never accurate per... View More

Amy C. Connolly
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Amy C. Connolly
answered on May 2, 2018

You would not to go jail If you moved outside of the designated areas, however, it could be grounds to change the parenting plan. The law on modification of parenting plans has changed and you may be able to move to amend that portion of the parenting plan based on your facts. I hope this helps.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for New Hampshire on
Q: My children's father I divorced 8 years ago. I want to modify child support. Now he wants a paternity test. Can he?

My children's father I divorced 8 years ago in Washington state. We have 2 daughters. The oldest is not his and he knows this, although we have raised her as his own. She is 16 now and still doesn't know. I now live in New Hampshire. He is in Missouri. I would like to modify child support... View More

Amy C. Connolly
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Amy C. Connolly
answered on May 2, 2018

I believe that he can request challenge paternity, however, he may run into a problem if he testified under oath that he was the biological father.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: Can I keep my kids a day of Dad's time for an important party I gave him 31 days notice for?

I have primary. Dad has 2 wkends a month (4days) as he chose on decree. I asked my ex to keep the kids for my husband's 50th bday party where out of town family is coming as well as many of their best friends. Offered options: He could take them Friday- I keep Sat - give back Sunday so he... View More

Amy C. Connolly
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Amy C. Connolly
answered on May 2, 2018

I believe you should check the language of the parenting plan. It usually contains a provision that each parent should make reasonable accommodations to deviate from the plan. I think that this would constitute a reasonable request. I do not believe that this would constitute "immediate or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: My friend let her son go see his grandparents

My friend let her son go see his grandparents in North Dakota and now they are saying they won’t let him come home what can she do

Joseph Kelly Levasseur
Joseph Kelly Levasseur
answered on Dec 8, 2017

She can call the police in North Dakota in the town the grandparents live in and try to file criminal charges for kidnapping. She should also file criminal charges in NH with her local police department so they can help her get her children back.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Hampshire on
Q: Check the more information section

Hello I have an 8 year old daughter who's mother has just came back into picture she was granted Sunday and Monday night custody. My mother has overall guardianship. My daughter has dance lesson which I pay for out of pocket and has been in dance longer then her mother has been back but now... View More

Joseph D Garrison
Joseph D Garrison
answered on Oct 15, 2017

If she is not complying with the Court Order then one option is to file a motion for contempt. She will be responsible for your costs if you are successful. The guardian cannot stop visitation - you will need to ask the Court to modify the Order so your daughter gets to dance class.

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