What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio. Hello again. Mother of my two youngest children filed a Motion for Custody. Children are 6 and 8. We were never married but for the most part have lived together as a family. They moved out in March 2009, I maintained weekend visitation and C/S. Last July she said "You need to take the kids [for awhile]" because she wasn't able to care for them F/T. 10 days later she tries to commit sucide when the children were in her care [weekend visitation]. I picked them up from the police and they've been livng with me since. A few months later she said she wanted the children back when she was on her feet. In the mean time she was living with family, her car got repoed, not attending MH counseling and maintaining frequent contact with her crack-head BF. I said we could re-visit that. In August she agreed to a "Shared Parenting Degree - Agreed Entry" that appointed me as the Residential parent of our 2 children. I did not request C/S. She then became employed F/T in September and moved into an apt. in November. Later that month we had a follow up mediation hearing to discuss a change in custody. At that time I felt it was too soon and if there was a change I wanted to see the children for an equal amount of time [not just weekends]. She disagreed, wanting to become the residential parent and the meeting ended.
For the last 10 months the children have lived with me I have not asked or received any C/S from her. I should also add that I have 12 YO son from another relationship that also lives with us. She has no other children. In the time our children have lived with me they have maintain or improved their grades and have perfect attendence records, which wasn't the case when she was solely responsible for taking them to school. I have serious concerns about her stability, not only is there the lack of follow up on the counseling but she also is Bi-Polar. Her employement has been very sketchy as well. She basically lacks stability. What should I expect at the hearing and what are the chances the magistrate granting her as residential parent? Would a GAL be appointed to investigate? It's my understanding Shared Parenting is when both parents have the children an equal amount of time and Joint Custody is when one parent is named the residential and the other has the children on the weekends. Doesn't our court order resemble a Joint Custody decree? Thanks in advance.
For the last 10 months the children have lived with me I have not asked or received any C/S from her. I should also add that I have 12 YO son from another relationship that also lives with us. She has no other children. In the time our children have lived with me they have maintain or improved their grades and have perfect attendence records, which wasn't the case when she was solely responsible for taking them to school. I have serious concerns about her stability, not only is there the lack of follow up on the counseling but she also is Bi-Polar. Her employement has been very sketchy as well. She basically lacks stability. What should I expect at the hearing and what are the chances the magistrate granting her as residential parent? Would a GAL be appointed to investigate? It's my understanding Shared Parenting is when both parents have the children an equal amount of time and Joint Custody is when one parent is named the residential and the other has the children on the weekends. Doesn't our court order resemble a Joint Custody decree? Thanks in advance.
What a relief. Now she may be the one paying me C/S should I pursue.