What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
I will try to be as succinct as possible. My partner (we never married) and I have been together for 12 years and have two children together. 2 years ago we seperated. At this time, a court order was obtained granting 51 (her)/49 (me) legal and physical custody. I had the children for half of the week, she had the children for the other half. A year ago, we decided that in the best interests of the children, we would try to work things out, and moved back in together. Although it has been difficult, communication had been better and the children were happy to have us back in one household.
2 months ago, she informed me that she just did not feel like things were working, and she was getting her own apartment. We decided to continue the previous arrangements in terms of visitiation. During these two months, she began to act erratically. The children informed me several days after she moved into her apartment that she had a new boyfriend who was staying there. Our mutual friends became concerned because she quit contacting them. The children informed me that she was drinking alot (Gin, to be specific) and did not get out of bed much while they were with her. I attempted to talk to her about these things, but was met with anger. She no longer communicated with me except by text messaging.
9 days ago, she picked up the children on her visitation day from school. She texted me that she had picked them up early in the school day because she was taking them out of town (100 miles away) to visit friends for the week and the children would be out of school. This made me uncomfortable, but there was a 3 day weekend, so the children would only miss two days.
Monday, the day that I was to pick up the children, they were not at school. I contacted the principal, who informed me that my ex had disenrolled the children and placed them on independant study. I called my ex in a bit of a panic asking what was happening. She did not answer, so I left a message. She emailed me informing me that she had not gone just "out of town", she had gone across the country to New Jersey. She said that due to the recent changes, the children were not doing well in school and she thought it best to take them to her parents house (in NJ) and home-school them. She said that they would be back in "a month or so". She would not let me speak to the children. I do not have her parents' number (they moved recently). Finally, my children called me last night. They told me that "everything they owned" was packed into the car and a trailer was rented. They said that they had moved there and wanted to come back to California. They were very upset and confused. They said they had thought that they were going on a trip for a few days and when they finally asked about calling me, my ex had told them that she could not get a hold of me and that they would be back to visit (me) soon. I have gone by her house and it is obvious that she has moved out. Further, she seems to have quit her job as I know that they would not have granted her such a long term of leave.
I am very upset and don't know what my rights are. I am worried about the children. My ex is very intelligent and I feel that she is making some choices that are not normal for her. I am concerned that she may be in a bad state emotionally and not making good decisions (her family has a long history of documented mental illness). She will not answer my calls or emails and I have only heard from the children the one time. Any advice would be appreciated.
I will try to be as succinct as possible. My partner (we never married) and I have been together for 12 years and have two children together. 2 years ago we seperated. At this time, a court order was obtained granting 51 (her)/49 (me) legal and physical custody. I had the children for half of the week, she had the children for the other half. A year ago, we decided that in the best interests of the children, we would try to work things out, and moved back in together. Although it has been difficult, communication had been better and the children were happy to have us back in one household.
2 months ago, she informed me that she just did not feel like things were working, and she was getting her own apartment. We decided to continue the previous arrangements in terms of visitiation. During these two months, she began to act erratically. The children informed me several days after she moved into her apartment that she had a new boyfriend who was staying there. Our mutual friends became concerned because she quit contacting them. The children informed me that she was drinking alot (Gin, to be specific) and did not get out of bed much while they were with her. I attempted to talk to her about these things, but was met with anger. She no longer communicated with me except by text messaging.
9 days ago, she picked up the children on her visitation day from school. She texted me that she had picked them up early in the school day because she was taking them out of town (100 miles away) to visit friends for the week and the children would be out of school. This made me uncomfortable, but there was a 3 day weekend, so the children would only miss two days.
Monday, the day that I was to pick up the children, they were not at school. I contacted the principal, who informed me that my ex had disenrolled the children and placed them on independant study. I called my ex in a bit of a panic asking what was happening. She did not answer, so I left a message. She emailed me informing me that she had not gone just "out of town", she had gone across the country to New Jersey. She said that due to the recent changes, the children were not doing well in school and she thought it best to take them to her parents house (in NJ) and home-school them. She said that they would be back in "a month or so". She would not let me speak to the children. I do not have her parents' number (they moved recently). Finally, my children called me last night. They told me that "everything they owned" was packed into the car and a trailer was rented. They said that they had moved there and wanted to come back to California. They were very upset and confused. They said they had thought that they were going on a trip for a few days and when they finally asked about calling me, my ex had told them that she could not get a hold of me and that they would be back to visit (me) soon. I have gone by her house and it is obvious that she has moved out. Further, she seems to have quit her job as I know that they would not have granted her such a long term of leave.
I am very upset and don't know what my rights are. I am worried about the children. My ex is very intelligent and I feel that she is making some choices that are not normal for her. I am concerned that she may be in a bad state emotionally and not making good decisions (her family has a long history of documented mental illness). She will not answer my calls or emails and I have only heard from the children the one time. Any advice would be appreciated.
