Get free answers to your Child Custody legal questions from lawyers in your area.
We have been married for 10+ years. I experienced a significant amount of domestic abuse in the marriage and left the home 18 months ago. I left our 10 year old with his father as my husband ruined my credit and finances. My husband now makes twice as much as I do. He makes so much now that he has... View More 
answered on Oct 23, 2023
You can file a motion for temporary spousal maintenance and ask to receive spousal maintenance while the case is pending. You can also for temporary custody (or, more specifically, temporary legal decision-making and parenting time) and an interim award of attorney's fees.
Domestic... View More
answered on Oct 10, 2023
It's unusual, but it's possible. Animal cruelty is one of the listed crimes under the domestic violence statute. It may depend on whether his actions meet the standards of animal cruelty (see ARS 13-2910) and whether those actions are significant enough to impact what should happen with... View More
Unfortunately my ex daughter in law makes it merely impossible for me to have the right to visit my granddaughter. There's other circumstances between her and my son going on but my concern is me not being able to see her more while they go back and forth with their visitation arrangements.
We had a hearing and despite my evidence that we are victims and father has a significant history of domestic violence and abuse, plus procedural errors like allowing another person to advise father (off camera) and speak during the hearing while on zoom, not allowing me time to present my case,... View More
answered on Oct 9, 2023
Sounds like your best option is probably to going to be filing a Motion for Reconsideration.
The standard for dismissing a judge for bias is so high that you are very unlikely succeed. I do not recommend going that route.
If you have evidence Father lied, present it and let it speak... View More
We live in AZ. He lies a lot. We have a mortgage together. What can I do legally to find out and if it is, get him out of home and away from kids?
answered on Oct 2, 2023
You probably need to get it tested. Then once you find out it is meth, you need to ask him to submit to a drug test. If it's positive, you could use that as a reason to get temporary emergency custody (i.e., legal decision-making and parenting time) over the children.
If you're... View More
I had residential custody and he had ldm and suddenly without consideration of his consider it d v past a judge grabted him custody of our minor even if he's probation for abuse of her and violating an oop, and with medical reports stating she is autistic and terrified of him and needed... View More
answered on Oct 2, 2023
You need to stop and consult with an attorney. I certainly understand why you did what you did, but I worry you could be making a bad situation worse.
The Order of Protection has not been served, so it is not in effect. That means you are technically violating the order when you do not... View More
In the order letters is says I need to file a response that contains citation to relevant statues and case law
answered on Oct 2, 2023
Sounds like they must have reassigned the judge in your case, and it (presuming service was proper) sounds like you are on the clock to file your Response. Without knowing what type of Petition or other request they filed, I can't advise you further.
My wife shares custody with the child’s father. Father has continuously taken the child’s phone away while she is at his house during his parental time. Mother and I have bought the phone and pay the cell phone bill on a monthly basis. Father has never paid any portion or is even on same phone... View More
answered on Sep 27, 2023
I am certainly sympathetic to what Mother and you are enduring because of Father's inappropriate actions.
However, what you suggest here is not the solution.
I know this may hurt to hear, and I apologize for that, but the law is clear: As a stepparent, you have no legal... View More
Does Rule 28 prohibit filing a REPLY to a RESPONSE?
answered on Aug 10, 2023
Don't file a Reply.
Rule 28 doesn't explicitly prohibit a Reply, but it implicitly does by explicitly authorizing a Response and making no mention of Reply.
Further, there is an important difference between a Petition and a Motion, and how they get resolved is why a Reply... View More
Recently we had an RMC and father requested a court order to enroll child in a muslim school. Mother opposed but court issued order stating that he has legal decisión making rights. In addition, the court went out of its way to rule that I (mother) not have ANY CONTACT with the school. How is this... View More
answered on Jul 21, 2023
Yes, the Court can prohibit you from going to the school.
Yes, you can file a Motion to Reconsider. List out the reasons you mentioned here, but do so more softly. The reasons you mention are all valid ones.
This happened at an RMC? The Court can't make orders at an RMC unless... View More
There is currently no custody order. So last year, I printed out a form that we agreed on that states I have temporary custody and she signed and we got notarized. Our son went to go visit for her for summer in CA but now she won’t let us talk to him and is alienating him from me and his other... View More
answered on Jul 20, 2023
The short answer is it is 100% time for you to file for custody and you may need to consider filing an emergency motion. You need to file in the state where your son most recently lived for six consecutive months.
As you write, "There is no custody order." Signing an agreement... View More
We obtained an OOP in June of 2022 on behalf of my minor daughter for abuse she suffered at the hands of father. HE left her outside in the heat without food or water last year in May. WE DO have a case in family court but it was HER OOP so I was on the order just because im the adult filing.... View More
answered on Jul 20, 2023
While, yes, you can file a new OOP, that may not be the most appropriate way to handle this situation.
This is better handled by filing an emergency motion in the family law case. OOP's are not meant to circumvent the custody courts.
RMC was a circus. BIA and TI not present. Father making wild allegations with no evidence. Judge had tech issues and could not access electronic records to review our motions. Court made orders based on hearsay and wording on order says “MOTHER shall provide requested paperwork to TI and payment... View More
answered on Jul 19, 2023
I'm not sure what your question is, but I certainly wish you well on the Motion to Reconsider, as the judge should consider your ability to pay for services. I hope the public defense office can foot most of the bill.
As an aside and just as an FYI: Hearsay is permitted in family... View More
For some ODD reason, during a hearing in family court, the judge believed father and though i retain custodial/residential custody of our 9yr old daughter— my joint legal decision making rights were handed over to father (full legal decision-making) and reason was Judge believed i weaponized OOP... View More
answered on Jul 19, 2023
I certainly understand how difficult it can be when a judge makes a ruling that is not at all in your child's best interests. I certainly do not believe that you should have lose legal decision-making.
Unfortunately, there is not much you can do right now.
If the order came... View More
I get SS disability and cannot afford it. Child lives with me and father is abuser. Can i file a motion to reconsider? Can we get a cheaper TI? What if i cannot afford a TI? Judge keeps saying im blocking efforts and not participating
answered on Jul 18, 2023
Yes, you can file a Motion to Reconsider and explain your financial circumstances. The Court must consider your ability to pay before it can order TI services. Gish v. Greyson, 253 Ariz. 437, 446, ¶ 42 (App. 2022).
Meditation hearing is coming up in August and I want to change to asking for full custody since my child expressed to me that there has been physical abuse towards them by the other parent. The other parent has already been physical towards me which documented by police response. I have called DCS... View More
answered on Jul 18, 2023
Note that I practice law in OHIO and do NOT practice in Az. I am an officer on the Ohio State Bar Association's Dispute Resolution Committee and have over 50 hours of mediation training from the Ohio Supreme Court's Judicial College.
Mediation is not a forum for presenting... View More
My daughter moved out of her marital home 1 yr ago due to domestic violence. She left their 9 yr old son w/the husband because she couldn't afford a 2 bedroom apt. She found the most affordable 1 apt . She didn't have a car but finally bought 1 with a really high mo payment. Now 1 yr... View More
answered on Jun 30, 2023
Yes, your daughter can request child support.
But let's be clear on what child support is. First, it's not meant to equalize the living situation between the parents. Second, it's done on a formula. The fact he has a two-bedroom and bought a Camaro are not relevant to how... View More
I live in goodyear arizona, 85395. I am going to have sex with a girl soon and i want her to sign a contract stating that if she gets pregnant, that she is legally obligated to have an abortion, give it up for adoption, or not make me pay child support. If i make a contract and have both of us sign... View More
answered on Jun 22, 2023
Probably not.
If you don’t want to run the risk of fathering a child, a vasectomy is a better option.
I filed 2 times. once in 2022 and again in January. Never given a trial date. Court has not responded to my questions. I filed for child support 2x with custody papers. No response. She has lived with me since birth DOB 10/15/21. I want to move on with my life. I have a 2 year OOP against dad and... View More
answered on Jun 21, 2023
Is the January case active? If so, the preliminary injunction is in effect and you can't take the child out of state without the Court's permission.
It seems strange you were never given a Court date. You probably missed a step. Did you serve the other party? If yes, did they... View More
My ex husband and I we live in different states, I have two kids under the age of 3, I have joint custody with my ex husband and at the end of this year his is going to stop giving me child support because he is not going to have a job after the military for a while. I want sole legal decision... View More
answered on Jun 19, 2023
I'm going to presume because you posted this question in Arizona, that the case is in Arizona. If it is not in Arizona, ignore my answer entirely and contact a lawyer in the appropriate state.
Child Support - If it's court-ordered, it doesn't matter that he's leaving the... View More
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