Child Placement - any attorneys here?

[mtbdarby]

Hi there,
I have been divorced for a year, we were separated for almost 2 years before that. My son is now 4 1/2 and lives with me during the week, and with my ex every 1st, 3rd and 4th weekends. We're each allowed to keep him for 1 weeks worth of vacation a year. This is our court mandated placement schedule.

My ex just called and informed me that he wants our son for the summer, from June to August starting this year. He starts kindergarten in the fall and of course, would be with me during the school year. We live about 160 miles apart. He has never exercised his right to take him for a weeks vacation even with my urging. I let him keep him an extra day on a weekend if it's a holiday so he can spend an extra day with him. Any time I've offered to let him have him for more time the answer is always no - he has plans or doesn't have gas money.

He is also an alcoholic. When he gets depressed he makes crank calls to me. The last one resulted in my calling the cops and him getting a verbal warning. If it happens again he gets a ticket and a restraining order.

He is threatening me that if I don't work this out with him, he will take me to court and to fight to change the placment and child support (his big driver). My questions are this:
- Since we are in different counties and my son lives here, can he go through the county were he lives (I do NOT want to have to take off from work to drive there for hearings). My son has residencey here, does that matter?
- He says he was told he has the right to have placement reviewed every two years. Is that correct?
- Where do I go to get questions answered - attorneys first, some family agency??
- any time I've offered to have him spend time with our son the answer is always no. Will this have any bearing on this?

Usually his threats are just that and fizzle out. This is the second time he's mentioned this so I want to be ready if he actually follows through with it. And I do not want this to go through his county - they are very liberal and it took almost 2 years and a lot of $$ because they made me bear the burden of proof that he's an alcoholic. I want whats best for my son but I don't want him hurt either. This kid is on the road a lot and I know he would like to spend more time with his dad.

To be perfectly selfish, if I agree (or have it forced on me), it would really hinder my bike rides on the weekend, lol. I couldn't race if I wanted or do longer distance rides without the expense of not seeing him.

TIA ladies....
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[Offthegrid]

This is just awful. I am so sorry. I don't have kids and I can't truly empathize with the stress this must place on you, but just wanted to give you a big hug {{{Dar}}}

If you can afford an attorney, that'd be my first call.

[maillotpois]

Ditto. Call an attorney. Do you have any friends who have been through a divorce who could recommend one to you?

I am an attorney, but I know nothing about family law and even less about Wisconsin law. But what he's saying just doesn't seem right.

Good luck. And a hug.

[KnottedYet]

I went through a little cr@p with my kid and custody. I found a low-cost attorney through a women's resource center (money was/is not readily available in my little world). It was a great thing to do. I got to see what SKnot's dad could and couldn't do, and got my rights and the custody laws explained to me very clearly. The attorney also had other resouces I could contact.

Document everything, get the papers you have re: his alcoholism and the police involvement, find a lawyer, and get covered.

My custody and child support agreement is open for review every two years, but the restrictions on how things can be changed (and how much) are pretty tight. No major changes allowed for us without very good reason and a full review and more documents, etc. etc.

Your laws may be very different, but if you talk to an attorney you can get a better idea of what can happen.

Is he trying to cow you with the "summers" issue, to get you to accept less child support?

[bouncybouncy]

sorry...no kids...no advice that others have not already said...just wanted to say good luck!!!
...and maybe something to keep your hopes up in the near future: you got yourself a little crew support (water-bottle-hander-over) for all those races when this is over and he is a bit older
well wishes your way------>

[mtbdarby]

I went through a little cr@p with my kid and custody. I found a low-cost attorney through a women's resource center (money was/is not readily available in my little world). It was a great thing to do. I got to see what SKnot's dad could and couldn't do, and got my rights and the custody laws explained to me very clearly. The attorney also had other resouces I could contact.

Document everything, get the papers you have re: his alcoholism and the police involvement, find a lawyer, and get covered.

My custody and child support agreement is open for review every two years, but the restrictions on how things can be changed (and how much) are pretty tight. No major changes allowed for us without very good reason and a full review and more documents, etc. etc.

Your laws may be very different, but if you talk to an attorney you can get a better idea of what can happen.

Is he trying to cow you with the "summers" issue, to get you to accept less child support?

Knot, I know that's where he's going with this. I expect him to ask me to pay him child support for the time he has him, which I doubt would happen. I did find documentation on the 2 year review from the initial agreement but only under certain circumstances. I'll talk to my buddy tonight and see if he has any info for me. Thanks for the ideas - I'll keep you posted.

[Aggie_Ama]

I agree with Knot about trying a women's center. A friend of mine is going through a nasty divorce with a man that has some personal issues (drinking, some emotional). The shelter considers her enough of a mental abuse case to help her find a low cost lawyer. I hope this works out best for you and your little guy.

[KSH]

Well, this sounds horrible. I don't have kids and I have no idea how hard this must be on you.

I wonder though... for him to challenge the visitation agreement... won't he need a lawyer? Lawyers don't come cheap and you mentioned something about him not having gas money to drive 160 miles?

Will he even have the money to pay for a lawyer?

And like Knotted said... I think he's trying to get an extended visitation with him so he can skimp on child support... and yes, even get it from you. Sounds like he's doing what he can to get money.

[SouthernBelle]

The laws differ from state to state so only an attorney from your area can answer your questions with any specificity.

Generally the case stays with the court in which it was originally filed.

The 2 year thing may be Wisconsin specific.

Talk to a lawyer, not an agency. I've seen more bad advice given by agencies and police officers.

His prior history may offered in evidence.