Get free answers to your Child Custody legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I was ordered to mediation with my ex regarding custody of our son within 30 days from 01/24/25, and both of us were required to file financial affidavits. I submitted my affidavit on 02/17, but my ex has not filed his yet and hasn't been in contact with our son since 2023 after moving to... View More 
answered on Mar 5, 2025
If there is a court order to mediate and it is scheduled then you should appear. Tell the mediator that you cannot move forward without his financial affidavit. You can also fie a motion to compel his financial affidavit. If the facts are as you say then the court should rule in your favor... View More
I'm currently involved in a child support situation where the original order was issued in Indiana. The custodial parent, now residing in Florida, and the non-custodial parent, in Texas, have both moved out of Indiana. Despite this, child support is still being enforced in Indiana, and there... View More
answered on Mar 5, 2025
The truth is that neither one of you should be in Indiana court anymore. The court with jurisdiction over the child is wherever the child has lived for the past six months. If you are in Florida you may want to file your action in Florida. You will need to notify the FL court that there is also a... View More
I recently went through a custody battle with my ex-husband, where I was granted full physical and legal custody with a no-contact order. He's filed an appeal, and I've returned to court multiple times due to his contempt. My current issue is that my current husband's ex-wife keeps... View More
answered on Mar 2, 2025
You will need to call a lawyer to schedule a consultation, so that the court docket and documents may be reviewed. Your description is confusing regarding why your current husband's ex-wife would be a party to court proceedings (or is she?), and is so, for what type of proceeding and which... View More
My husband wants to file for 50/50 custody of his 3-year-old son, but he is concerned about a recent felony conviction for domestic violence in January 2025. There are concerns about the child's well-being when in the mother's care, as she suffers from seizures and has left the child... View More
answered on Feb 23, 2025
The legal standard is what is in the best interest of the child. The felony is a factor just like the other parent’s issues are. The court has to consider everything together. Try to make a list of all the good parenting factors on your side. Speak with a local family lawyer for more specific... View More
What is the likely outcome of a temporary hearing in Florida when Parent A is requesting 50/50 custody of a 5-month-old infant? The infant currently lives 5 hours away from Parent A due to the other parent's recent move, which happened right before Parent A filed to establish paternity. The... View More
answered on Feb 17, 2025
There are a lot of "what ifs" in your question. The starting point for timesharing is 50/50. You do not provide the reason for the move. Was it for a legitimate reason or just to put distance between the parties. Obviously 50/50 timesharing for an infant with the parents living 5 hours... View More
Custody and Support:
We’ve agreed on 50/50 custody of our 14-year-old son, with him living with me during the week and alternating weekends. My husband offered $150/week in child support directly to our son and will cover health insurance and extracurriculars. Is this acceptable?... View More
answered on Jan 20, 2025
While the timesharing arrangement proposed appears to be in your best interest, a critical review of the financial distribution plan is essential. At this juncture, it's impossible to ascertain whether the proposed financial settlement is equitable. A complete and transparent disclosure of all... View More
Custody and Support:
We’ve agreed on 50/50 custody of our 14-year-old son, with him living with me during the week and alternating weekends. My husband offered $150/week in child support directly to our son and will cover health insurance and extracurriculars. Is this acceptable?... View More
answered on Jan 20, 2025
As to the five topics you referenced (Custody & Support, Financial matters, Alimony, Life Insurance & Car, and Legal protection), you are free to enter into any agreement you like that addresses these topics. But beware, once you agree to the terms you are bound by them and cannot cry... View More
Hello I have a question about a situation about my daughter enrollment for school. I am a primary caregiver. Her dad has her twice a week. I am trying to cooperate and trying to figure out a agreement for a school I tried to discuss halfway in between me and his house, and he is trying to say that... View More
answered on Jan 9, 2025
You do not mention if you have been to court or not. If you have a parenting plan then you need to follow what it says. If you do not then you may need to go to court to settle this disagreement. Based on the facts contained in your question you can enroll the child in a school near your house. If... View More
He threatens me all the time saying he will take our kids away from me. Is it possible? And would I be able to move out of state with the kids even if he won't let me? Since my family and help for me is in another state
answered on Dec 28, 2024
In Florida, unless you have already been to court the mother starts out with control of the children. It is possible for one parent to go to court to establish or modify timesharing (custody) but the end result will be a schedule of sharing time. It is rare for children to be "taken away"... View More
Father and child lives in the US and ex lives in Canada. Ex filed the divorce back in 2018 in Canada but since the child is living with father, Canadian court proceeded with divorce only as they do not have the jurisdiction over the child. She does not pay for a dime or child support as directed by... View More
answered on Dec 27, 2024
If you have or can get a certified copy of the Canadian divorce decree you can domesticate it (file with your local court and ask them to recognize it). Depending on the exact language regarding the child you may need to file a motion as well asking for sole parental responsibility and authority to... View More
We filled for divorce 2 years ago in NJ. My wife moved to FL 1.5 years ago, although there is no written agreement to allow this. I now also live in FL. Do we have to move the case to FL? Is FL a better state for me from a child support perspective or is NJ?
answered on Dec 17, 2024
If the child has been living in Florida for more than six months then NJ will probably not accept jurisdiction anymore, meaning that they may divorce you but they will not address children's issues because the child does not live there anymore. I cannot advise you on NJ child support law.... View More
He owns his own home and is a business owner. He loves my child as it’s his own. I’m living in a house right now that was flooded during a hurricane and it’s a current construction zone. I’d love to move in with him so my child can be safe and have a family environment. Am I able too while... View More
answered on Dec 6, 2024
The court will always look at the best interests of the child. As long as you are doing what is best for your child (as opposed to what is best for you) then you should be alright. Just be prepared to explain the the court why you moved and how it was better for the child. Speak with a local family... View More
My son went temporarily to MI while I was incarcerated. I still have full custody. I am doing well and would like my son to be with me again. I believe my son has been turned against me while I was gone. My mother is elderly and in very poor health, My stepfather has Alzheimer’s. So my son is... View More
answered on Nov 18, 2024
You need to start with the last court order regarding your child. What does it say about who cares for the child while you were incarcerated. You can then return to the court that issued that order to ask to get your child back. Generally, children do not get to choose who they live with. Speak... View More
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answered on Nov 12, 2024
The answer depends on whether the custody agreement was ratified by the Court and if it became a final or temporary order in a custody or a paternity case. Custody agreements between two parents that are not generally filed in Court can be enforced as a contract if necessary to protect one parent... View More
A UCCJEA was also filed with the petition. The lawyer didn’t notify me as well. The child now lives 22h away oppose to 6h . What should I do to get this settled quickly .
answered on Nov 6, 2024
File an Emergency Motion for Child Pick-Up Order. This motion can request the court to order the immediate return of the child. Since the respondent did not notify you about the relocation, they might be in contempt of court, especially if there was a court order in place prohibiting such a move... View More
myself and safely get my children returned to my custody after 3 years of a battle against the court employees and authorities, who ARE running this town, my childrens cases, no due process exists and judges simply don't respond to emergencies modification custody? Not even a personal letter... View More
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answered on Oct 17, 2024
Based on the allegations, it would be in the best interest of the child(ren) that you request the Court to appoint a Guardians ad Litem (GAL) to advocate for the minor child(ren). The Guardians ad Litem will have the ability to review all the evidence and prepare a report and send to the Judge... View More
answered on Sep 19, 2024
If your children have lived in NY for longer than six months then you need to file for timesharing in NY in the jurisdiction where the children live. If you were never married to the other parent and have never been to court then it would be a paternity case. Speak with a local family lawyer for... View More
Father has been absent for 4 years (since birth) and now wants to petition for custody out of the blue. Is mental health counseling generally a part of the reunification plan? How long are the gradual steps for reunification? Will he ultimately get to 50/50 custody? I just want to understand whats... View More
answered on Sep 17, 2024
Reunification varies based on the specific circumstances of each case. If mental health concerns are raised in the pleadings, evaluations may be ordered. Initially, supervised timesharing is often implemented when there is a significant gap in time, and the child is unfamiliar with the other... View More
My family lived in Florida for 1.8 years. We went to Mississippi to help wife’s family for 5 months and retained our residence in Florida. things got bad and I brought our children back home to Florida. We both filed for divorce in each state.
I dismissed her because we weren’t in... View More
answered on Sep 7, 2024
You indicated that each of you "dismissed" the other spouse. A party to a case cannot dismiss a case filed by another party. Do you mean that the respective courts dismissed both cases? If so, when a motion to dismiss was filed, you should have responded that you "retained [y]our... View More
My family lived in Florida for 1.8 years. We went to Mississippi to help wife’s family for 5 months and retained our residence in Florida. things got bad and I brought our children back home to Florida. We both filed for divorce in each state.
I dismissed her because we weren’t in... View More
answered on Sep 6, 2024
Every state has a jurisdiction requirement for filing lawsuits. In Florida (and many other states), in order to file for divorce one party has to have lived in the state for at least six months. Wherever you decide to file, you must meet the jurisdiction requirements. Speak with a local family... View More
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