Get free answers to your Child Custody legal questions from lawyers in your area.
Her ex when she let's him know he's suppose to pay half of child care tells her to take him to court what are he options since she can't afford an attorney and the parenting plan is 5 yrs old and his montly payment is $500 for three children. How should she go about taking care of... View More 
answered on Apr 2, 2018
She can contact DCS (Division of Child Support) and ask that they collect for her. Although all past due child support bears interest, they will not collect that for her. It can take DCS a long time but they will do this for her at no charge.
If EX has a job, she should consider hiring a... View More
custody?
answered on Apr 2, 2018
As I understand it, your husband is the non primary parent and the 17 year lives with Mom. Now 17 year old wants to live with you and your husband?
If you can reach an agreement with Mother/ primary parent to modify the parenting plan by agreement, then stepdaughter can live with you... View More
The father doesn’t pay child support, he doesn’t help out with finances or essentials, he told me the day of that he was moving to a different state. He is always bugging me about talking to her on the phone, can I get in trouble for not letting them talk? Do I have to have contact with him?
answered on Mar 30, 2018
I wouldn't wait to see if you are going to get in trouble for not allowing your child to talk to the other parent. There may be reasons to do so, but I would rather see you present the issue to the court and get a judge to issue an order.
If the child resides in Washington, you... View More
Her biological dad has not been in the picture since she was 3 or 4. She is now 9 years old. I live in Vancouver WA. We are recently married and had decided to wait tell we we're married to have him adopt her we thought it would be easier. We want to have her adopted and she would like to take... View More
answered on Mar 28, 2018
You and your spouse should contact an attorney to initiate an adoption proceeding in Clark County Superior Court. Before doing so, I recommend that you have the birth father sign a consent to the adoption. You can complete the adoption and name change in the same proceeding.
His question is based on the verbage he needs to use. The wife has full custody of the daughter and he wants visitation rights. If he puts that he wants visitation without using the word custody for himself will that work? He doesn’t want to lose his daughter. Or does he need to be required to... View More
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answered on Jan 24, 2018
This is not something he is going to want to do without an attorney. When your car is broken, you take it to a mechanic, not get on youtube and try to figure it out yourself. One simple error can cost thousands to fix. He needs to do it right the first time and hire and experienced attorney to... View More
would i have to go through oregon to appeal the custody order or can i do it through washington?
answered on Oct 11, 2017
Once a court makes a custody determination, that court has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction to make all future custody decisions regarding the same children. The only exception is if the children and both parents no longer reside in that state. You will therefore have to file your modification... View More
If so, how can he guaranty that his mother gets her and not the ex-step mother? They have been divorced for over three years and the step mother has no rights to her for visits or anything else.
answered on Sep 5, 2017
If your son's ex-wife has had no contact with the child for more than three years, it is highly unlikely that the court would award her custody of the child. If your son dies, the child's mother, as the surviving biological parent, would have a preference in obtaining legal custody. If... View More
They are not biologically his. But he has been their "dad" their whole lives. Power of attorney work?
answered on Dec 2, 2016
The power of attorney ceases to be effective upon your death, so that won't work. The foolproof way is to have your spouse adopt the children. If that is not possible, you should designate your spouse as the children's guardian in your will, and express your preference that they... View More
The story is long here, but short version is I have a court hearing coming up and need to get my five-year-old back with me full custody. He is much better off with me, better living conditions, with his friends and neighborhood he grew up with. If someone thinks they can help me then I will give... View More
answered on Sep 13, 2016
You can start or continue learning about parenting plans at http://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/issues/family-law/parenting-plans-residential-time
In King county you can call 211 to reach the Northwest Justice Project where you may find additional help. Visit the court's website to... View More
My son is 5 years old and his mother suddenly moved him, her and her daughter's belongings out of our apartment that we shared for 6 years. She did this right in front of the children, very upsetting to them and me. She took my son away and refused to let me see him for the most part. I... View More
answered on Sep 13, 2016
What a difficult situation for you. Each county has some kind of legal aid program, one that organizes for others in the state is the Northwest Justice Project (https://nwjustice.org/). You can call their CLEAR Hotline at 1-888-201-1014
(M-F 9:15 am to 12:15 pm) to see if pro bono (free)... View More
I want to enlist for emancipation but I want to know if my case is strong enough to be granted. My mother is married to my step father and they have 3 kids and I'm extremely unhappy and put down by them. Im emotionally absuised and I don't want to be in this house anymore. I have my own... View More
answered on Jul 6, 2016
You can find some information about emancipation at http://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/search?q=emancipation. Consider your situation carefully, as you don't want to get caught up in a child protective services situation. Sometimes when we are pretty grown up but not yet of age, we can feel so... View More
My husband pays $600 a month to his ex wife but there is not child support set up or a parenting plan. In a recent visit his oldest son said that my husbands ex uses the child support money to fund her restaurant and not on the kids. Would that count as parental neglect? His daughter (age 5) did... View More
answered on Jul 6, 2016
Does your husband have a copy of his dissolution decree? Child support obligations are normally addressed in the decree and its attachments. Child support is reasonably used only for supporting children, from socks and other garments to housing and food. A pattern of expenditure showing otherwise... View More
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