Ex-spouse new wife slander infront of my children

[Annabelle]

What is the name of your state? Iowa
I have been divorced for 8 years, the father of my children remarried 7 years ago to a VERY mean spirited women. I have done nothing to this women (I really haven't, because she is so mean to my girls, I'm afraid she'll take it out on them, like when I call there, she is HORRIBLE to them!!)... Any rate, my question is this... These people have taken me to court over the silliest things over the past 8 years (like the kind of underware my girls can ware) and now, once again, she's started in, only worse this time, she's starting to be verbally abusive to my daughter and saying horrible things about me to her. Like I'm a b***h/c**t/drug addict (which is ABSOLUTELY not true! I don't even smoke!) This is upsetting my daughter greatly and she feels the need to defend me, which I don't think she should have to, and therefore, she gets introuble for sticking up for me. Is there anything legally I can do about this? I know this type of thing is hard to proove...???

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by Annabelle

What is the name of your state? Iowa
I have been divorced for 8 years, the father of my children remarried 7 years ago to a VERY mean spirited women. I have done nothing to this women (I really haven't, because she is so mean to my girls, I'm afraid she'll take it out on them, like when I call there, she is HORRIBLE to them!!)... Any rate, my question is this... These people have taken me to court over the silliest things over the past 8 years (like the kind of underware my girls can ware) and now, once again, she's started in, only worse this time, she's starting to be verbally abusive to my daughter and saying horrible things about me to her. Like I'm a b***h/c**t/drug addict (which is ABSOLUTELY not true! I don't even smoke!) This is upsetting my daughter greatly and she feels the need to defend me, which I don't think she should have to, and therefore, she gets introuble for sticking up for me. Is there anything legally I can do about this? I know this type of thing is hard to proove...???

I would recommend putting your kids in counseling. There are two reasons for this.

First, it will help them with coping mechanisms to handle what they are dealing with at dad's. If you can pull dad into the counseling then it may even help dad learn to have a backbone and control his wife's behavior towards the children.

In addition, the counselor could be a valuable witness in court if you have to address these issues.

[Annabelle]

She does go to "family" counseling with them because they think my daughter has an attitude towards her kids and I am not allowed to be brought up in any conversation around the stepmother, including their conseling sessions. My ex has only gone once so it's basically the step mother and her two kids and my daughter.... my daughter is miserable there! My oldest daughter moved out and is living with me, my youngest is still there until everything is settled in court, which you know how long that can be.... I just need to get her out! It doesn't seem to matter to the dad, he always takes his wifes side over the girls, in everything... my girls are teens, so it's not like they don't know what's going on, he just doesn't care, he just doesn't want to pay me any money so he keeps my youngest, i have my oldest and i pay him, he doesn't pay me.....i wouldn't even care about the support, i just want my daughter out of that house!!

[rmet4nzkx]

It is always helpful to explain your custody situation, what type of custody, visitation etc so we can provide appropriate advice and custody is often at the root of such issues or when there is a prolonged custody battle. Getting advice that is what you want to heare isn't necessiarly what you need to hear to address your legal problem.