musiclvr2675
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? TEXAS
I can't afford an attorney to address this issue. So I hope to get some useful information here. Are there any Texas Attorneys around for some advice?
His dad has always been a workaholic but never seems to have money to pay his child support. He leaves him at his girlfriend's house or gives him the choice to go to work with him. His dad is an electrician and doesn't feel he's putting him in danger, but from things I've heard from my son I would disagree. There are a lot of common sense situations that his dad doesn't think about but I'm concerned about. My son came home with a flat top buzz cut that he says his dad MADE him get even though I just had his hair cut the weekend before and it was a #1 tapered with the top being 1.5 inches. Unless he goes to work with his dad, my son is usually bored at his father's girlfriends house playing video games or watching TV. He doesn't get much quality time with his dad which is supposed to be the point of the visitations (unless I'm wrong). His dad won't answer my phone calls when I try to discuss it. When he drops him off or picks him up, he'll call him to meet him by the curb and I don't get a chance. Communication and the ability for confrontation was never easy with their dad.We've been divorced for over 5 yrs. I have never held him back from visiting his dad and have always tried to keep things positive in hopes that they could bond. I know his dad has good intentions in general but he doesn't act on them and makes bad decisions. During our marriage and even now he has been an alcoholic, drinks & drives too but nothing I've said or asked has ever been respected on his end. I worry while my son is with his dad. Some of the quality time he does have with his dad is going to his dad's local bar & grill. He gets to play video games while his dad socializes at the bar...then they drive home...These are details you couldn't know but I don't know what to do to stop this. My son has even called me while on summer vacation with his dad to tell me his dad got a DWI.
I'm always told to get a lawyer but I can't afford one. I feel helpless! When our divorce went through he conveniently started working for himself, so he would only claim to earn so much and his wages could not be garnished. He has always "cashed" checks. He never deposited paychecks into our joint account while we were married. So on that note, I wish I could have his wages garnished for the child support. When it comes to money, he's never been completely honest and has always tried to do things "under the table". I have my son during the month of June for the summer and he's supposed to go to his dad's for July. I hope to figure something out by then. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to KEEP my son away, but his dad needs to understand raising his son to be a man is important and he's responsible for him and a role model regardless if he wants to be one or not. His dad is not involved at all with school or his life outside their weekends. I have encouraged extra days, school events, etc but he does not choose to get engaged with these activities. My son's number one wish is for his dad to stop drinking.
Does Texas Law allow the child to decide if they don't have to go with the non-custodial parent on scheduled visitations? Our divorce decree states I can't keep his father from visiting our son even if he's not paying child support, but if my son doesn't want to go, do I have to make him? Same question for if I don't feel it's safe for him to leave with his dad? Can I insist on him taking a breathalyzer test before he leaves?
I can't afford an attorney to address this issue. So I hope to get some useful information here. Are there any Texas Attorneys around for some advice?
His dad has always been a workaholic but never seems to have money to pay his child support. He leaves him at his girlfriend's house or gives him the choice to go to work with him. His dad is an electrician and doesn't feel he's putting him in danger, but from things I've heard from my son I would disagree. There are a lot of common sense situations that his dad doesn't think about but I'm concerned about. My son came home with a flat top buzz cut that he says his dad MADE him get even though I just had his hair cut the weekend before and it was a #1 tapered with the top being 1.5 inches. Unless he goes to work with his dad, my son is usually bored at his father's girlfriends house playing video games or watching TV. He doesn't get much quality time with his dad which is supposed to be the point of the visitations (unless I'm wrong). His dad won't answer my phone calls when I try to discuss it. When he drops him off or picks him up, he'll call him to meet him by the curb and I don't get a chance. Communication and the ability for confrontation was never easy with their dad.We've been divorced for over 5 yrs. I have never held him back from visiting his dad and have always tried to keep things positive in hopes that they could bond. I know his dad has good intentions in general but he doesn't act on them and makes bad decisions. During our marriage and even now he has been an alcoholic, drinks & drives too but nothing I've said or asked has ever been respected on his end. I worry while my son is with his dad. Some of the quality time he does have with his dad is going to his dad's local bar & grill. He gets to play video games while his dad socializes at the bar...then they drive home...These are details you couldn't know but I don't know what to do to stop this. My son has even called me while on summer vacation with his dad to tell me his dad got a DWI.
I'm always told to get a lawyer but I can't afford one. I feel helpless! When our divorce went through he conveniently started working for himself, so he would only claim to earn so much and his wages could not be garnished. He has always "cashed" checks. He never deposited paychecks into our joint account while we were married. So on that note, I wish I could have his wages garnished for the child support. When it comes to money, he's never been completely honest and has always tried to do things "under the table". I have my son during the month of June for the summer and he's supposed to go to his dad's for July. I hope to figure something out by then. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to KEEP my son away, but his dad needs to understand raising his son to be a man is important and he's responsible for him and a role model regardless if he wants to be one or not. His dad is not involved at all with school or his life outside their weekends. I have encouraged extra days, school events, etc but he does not choose to get engaged with these activities. My son's number one wish is for his dad to stop drinking.
Does Texas Law allow the child to decide if they don't have to go with the non-custodial parent on scheduled visitations? Our divorce decree states I can't keep his father from visiting our son even if he's not paying child support, but if my son doesn't want to go, do I have to make him? Same question for if I don't feel it's safe for him to leave with his dad? Can I insist on him taking a breathalyzer test before he leaves?