Getting full custody

[Anonymous]

My husband currently shares custody (50/50) of his 11 year old with his ex wife. His ex isn't stable as shes always between jobs and constantly moving. DH is considering trying to sue for full custody as he wants his daughter to be in a stable environment. What are the chances that a judge will rule in his favor?

[Anonymous]

Very good.

This happened to someone I know, dad got full custody. Need a good lawyer and solid proof it’s what’s best for the child.

[Anonymous]

Is it possible they can work it out without the courts? Maybe the ex doesn’t want full custody but also doesn’t want to lose any child support?

[Anonymous]

It depends on the judge and situation. It would be very hard and expensive.

[Anonymous]

In what way is she not stable? Is this just about moving and changing jobs? Is your step daughter changing schools all the time? If so why not just have her go to school based on your address and have her stay there even if the mom moves?

Or is she not stable in other ways?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband currently shares custody (50/50) of his 11 year old with his ex wife. His ex isn't stable as shes always between jobs and constantly moving. DH is considering trying to sue for full custody as he wants his daughter to be in a stable environment. What are the chances that a judge will rule in his favor?

The best thing for kids is two involved parents who spend time with their kids. 50/50 is really good and is really in the best interests of his child. What else is going on besides moving? Otherwise it sounds like he wants to penalize his daughter and exwife when he isn't paying enough child support for her to have stable housing. Can you give more information?

[Anonymous]

Do you want to be a full time stepmom to this girl?

I can’t tell if you’re asking because you’re terrified the judge will say yes or if you want this. Either way, being in between jobs and not being able to afford great housing doesn’t sound like a terrible offense. Your husband probably spent a great deal on a divorce lawyer so he wouldn’t have to give his ex much financial support. It sounds like he’s willing to spend a lot of money to punish his ex again and take custody away from her...

This is a second marriage, so pay attention.

Do you have children with this man? How he treats his ex is very indicative of how he will treat you.

Think about how many tens of thousands he’s willing to spend on a lawyer to avoid giving his ex a few hundred in child support.

[Anonymous]

MAYbe she isn’t stable because she doesn’t have the money to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In what way is she not stable? Is this just about moving and changing jobs? Is your step daughter changing schools all the time? If so why not just have her go to school based on your address and have her stay there even if the mom moves?

Or is she not stable in other ways?

She currently goes to a school in our neighborhood because like I said, her mom is constantly moving. We’re in Clarksburg and her mom moved to Manassas in October (and planning to move again as soon as she gets another job). There have been times when my stepdaughter missed school because her mom didn’t have gas money to get her there. My stepdaughter hates all the moving and actually wants to live with us full time and visit her mom on the weekends because with us she has her own room, a bed, and close to her friends. That’s why DH wants to pursue this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Do you want to be a full time stepmom to this girl?

I can’t tell if you’re asking because you’re terrified the judge will say yes or if you want this. Either way, being in between jobs and not being able to afford great housing doesn’t sound like a terrible offense. Your husband probably spent a great deal on a divorce lawyer so he wouldn’t have to give his ex much financial support. It sounds like he’s willing to spend a lot of money to punish his ex again and take custody away from her...

This is a second marriage, so pay attention.

Do you have children with this man? How he treats his ex is very indicative of how he will treat you.

Think about how many tens of thousands he’s willing to spend on a lawyer to avoid giving his ex a few hundred in child support.

I wouldn’t mind, she’s a great kid and I believe children deserve stability.

We have two kids together.

[Anonymous]

OP, full custody implies that your DH would be the sole legal guardian. The situation you describe doesn’t warrant that.

At most, he might get school nights with the mom getting weekends and a lot of time in the summer. It might not reduce his CS much at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, full custody implies that your DH would be the sole legal guardian. The situation you describe doesn’t warrant that.

At most, he might get school nights with the mom getting weekends and a lot of time in the summer. It might not reduce his CS much at all.

He doesn’t care about child support being reduced or not, he just wants her in stable environment full time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what way is she not stable? Is this just about moving and changing jobs? Is your step daughter changing schools all the time? If so why not just have her go to school based on your address and have her stay there even if the mom moves?

Or is she not stable in other ways?

She currently goes to a school in our neighborhood because like I said, her mom is constantly moving. We’re in Clarksburg and her mom moved to Manassas in October (and planning to move again as soon as she gets another job). There have been times when my stepdaughter missed school because her mom didn’t have gas money to get her there. My stepdaughter hates all the moving and actually wants to live with us full time and visit her mom on the weekends because with us she has her own room, a bed, and close to her friends. That’s why DH wants to pursue this.

he needs to pay more child support.

[Anonymous]

What your stepdaughter wants isn’t full custody, she just wants to spend the week at your place and visit mom on the weekends. Why don’t you try to work that out with her mother?

[Anonymous]

Does the stepmom not have money because she is abusing drugs/alcohol/gambling? Or does she not have money because her job doesn't pay that much? What's the story?