Missed deadline for parenting class in divorce- how bad is this?

[Anonymous]

DH going through a divorce in MD. I'm the petitioner. I didn't make the deadline for taking the parenting class I was supposed to do after filing. I forgot but honestly but am surprised that my attorney did not watch this deadline for me and didn't remind me at some point.

Until I can get a hold of my attorney on Monday, can anyone tell me how bad this is going to look for me? I am trying to get 50/50 custody or more.

[Anonymous]

For someone mandated to take a parenting class whose first instinct is to blame his attorney, I'm going to guess it won't go well for you.

The best you can do is register right now, today, with a start date as soon as possible and show the court you are working in good faith to correct YOUR error.

You may also want to look at your tendency to overlook deadlines and shift blame. You may find other things that will help you improve yourself and your co-parenting abilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For someone mandated to take a parenting class whose first instinct is to blame his attorney, I'm going to guess it won't go well for you.

The best you can do is register right now, today, with a start date as soon as possible and show the court you are working in good faith to correct YOUR error.

You may also want to look at your tendency to overlook deadlines and shift blame. You may find other things that will help you improve yourself and your co-parenting abilities.

I've been really busy with travel and work and I really don't think it should be held against me if I'm the higher earning and primary provider for the family. DW has time to do it on time because she doesn't do anything.

[Anonymous]

You are making excuses for why this parenting class wasn't a priority. You're a grown adult - you shouldn't need your mommy reminding you of when you need to be where.

I work for attorneys and just a couple weeks ago watched one leave a conference early to fly to Chicago in order to support his daughter running a marathon. When your kids are important to you, you prioritize them. You didn't prioritize your kids.

[Anonymous]

Do you not have a calendar feature on your phone or computer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are making excuses for why this parenting class wasn't a priority. You're a grown adult - you shouldn't need your mommy reminding you of when you need to be where.

I work for attorneys and just a couple weeks ago watched one leave a conference early to fly to Chicago in order to support his daughter running a marathon. When your kids are important to you, you prioritize them. You didn't prioritize your kids.

I think that working 60 hours a week to make money for my kids should be considered more important than a 4 hour class that I don't even need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH going through a divorce in MD. I'm the petitioner. I didn't make the deadline for taking the parenting class I was supposed to do after filing. I forgot but honestly but am surprised that my attorney did not watch this deadline for me and didn't remind me at some point.

Until I can get a hold of my attorney on Monday, can anyone tell me how bad this is going to look for me? I am trying to get 50/50 custody or more.

MoCo is pretty strict. I had a good excuse to simply change the date of my parenting class and my request was refused. As a result, I missed my child receiving an award.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you not have a calendar feature on your phone or computer?

It was only in the original court filings and not something that I was given separately from my attorney. I didn't think it was expected that I would go through every single legal document myself. That's the whole point of paying $500/hour to an attorney and who knows how much to his paralegals. If I wanted to manage it myself I would have filed without representation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH going through a divorce in MD. I'm the petitioner. I didn't make the deadline for taking the parenting class I was supposed to do after filing. I forgot but honestly but am surprised that my attorney did not watch this deadline for me and didn't remind me at some point.

Until I can get a hold of my attorney on Monday, can anyone tell me how bad this is going to look for me? I am trying to get 50/50 custody or more.

MoCo is pretty strict. I had a good excuse to simply change the date of my parenting class and my request was refused. As a result, I missed my child receiving an award.

The court wouldn't let you watch the award ceremony or you had to go to the class during it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are making excuses for why this parenting class wasn't a priority. You're a grown adult - you shouldn't need your mommy reminding you of when you need to be where.

I work for attorneys and just a couple weeks ago watched one leave a conference early to fly to Chicago in order to support his daughter running a marathon. When your kids are important to you, you prioritize them. You didn't prioritize your kids.

I think that working 60 hours a week to make money for my kids should be considered more important than a 4 hour class that I don't even need.

How arrogant of you to assume you already know everything about parenting children with divorced parents and have nothing to learn. How will you get your kids to their doctors appointments when you're traveling and working 60 hours a week, without forgetting? Who will you blame for not reminding you?

[Anonymous]

Since you're the man and it's DCUM, you won't receive much sympathy here.

I'd book a class now, and then show that you're booked and say it was teh first available class that also lined up with your schedule. If they push back, tell them: "If I cancelled the work trip to attend the class, I"d be fired and unable to support my child."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you not have a calendar feature on your phone or computer?

It was only in the original court filings and not something that I was given separately from my attorney. I didn't think it was expected that I would go through every single legal document myself. That's the whole point of paying $500/hour to an attorney and who knows how much to his paralegals. If I wanted to manage it myself I would have filed without representation.

No. Lawyers expect their clients to be active participants in their cases, and to read all documents.

[Anonymous]

I saw that if domestic violence is involved I can be excused from having to attend the class. If my wife hit me and I have proof, would that give me grounds to be allowed to not attend the class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are making excuses for why this parenting class wasn't a priority. You're a grown adult - you shouldn't need your mommy reminding you of when you need to be where.

I work for attorneys and just a couple weeks ago watched one leave a conference early to fly to Chicago in order to support his daughter running a marathon. When your kids are important to you, you prioritize them. You didn't prioritize your kids.

I think that working 60 hours a week to make money for my kids should be considered more important than a 4 hour class that I don't even need.

Then keep working and forget about 50/50 as it is clearly too much strain on your billable hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw that if domestic violence is involved I can be excused from having to attend the class. If my wife hit me and I have proof, would that give me grounds to be allowed to not attend the class?

Dude. Go to the class.