My 12 year old son visits his father in Indiana every other weekend and spends the weekend with him. His father recently contacted me and said his girlfriend's son was missing some games and videos and that our son had taken them. When we asked him, he admitted taking the items. His father sent me a list of items that are missing and we returned the items we had. Our son confirms many of the items on the list but denies others. His father doesn't believe him but there is no reason for him to lie about some while admitting to others. He knows he is in trouble and adding a few more items to the list would not increase his trouble. He is demanding we pay him for the missing items (the list keeps getting longer) or he will contact the police about it. I believe my son when he says he didn't take all of them. I've requested his father to provide receipts for the missing items to prove they actually had them before I would even consider replacing them.
My question is, what responsibility do we both have in this situation? We have joint custody and he lives with me. I feel, at most, we should each pay half for the items. Am I within my rights to require proof of ownership before replacing them?
Thanks for your help.
My question is, what responsibility do we both have in this situation? We have joint custody and he lives with me. I feel, at most, we should each pay half for the items. Am I within my rights to require proof of ownership before replacing them?
Thanks for your help.