What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Austin, Texas (Travis County)
I currently have 45/55 expanded state custody and pay $1700 a month in child support (includes insurance premium) for 3 children.
I am looking for advice on getting 50/50 custody and a reduced child support. My ex-wife remarried immediately after the divorce and I recently moved in with my fiance. I've asked for 50/50 since before the divorce, but my lawyer and I at the time were constantly on the defense from a barrage of unsubstantiated accusations from my ex's high priced lawyer. In the end we agreed to 45/55 expanded custody and full child support as well as monthly insurance premiums for the children (joint-conservators).
I have very little residual funds because my last lawyer advised me to move as close to the Austin neighborhood where the kids were in schools and into a comparable home as they were in before the divorce, even though I could barely afford it. As soon as I moved into the old neighborhood my ex moved the kids from their schools (Summitt Elementary neighborhood) without notice to me to a far corner of Travis County (Lago Vista). I barely make ends meet each month with the increased expenses of traveling and added daycare. I was counting on my position of working from home and the kids busing home to me from a local school to compensate for the increased expense of moving into the more expensive neighborhood/home. I cannot afford to live in Lago Vista as I travel to Austin locations sometimes for my work and the commute from a home office and other local amenities is too taxing for me and the kids. Its been hard, but I've fired the last lawyer that gave me this advice and asked me to gamble so that I could ask for 50/50. For a couple years now I managed to stay at the income I am at and within the expenses I currently have and still have not missed any possessions. I've also managed to fight off a false enforcement charge from my ex and her attempt to take the kids from me as her request to be sole conservator.
I'm looking for my next steps and possibly a better and more experienced lawyer that can help me with getting 50/50 custody. I am looking for a less confrontational agreement with my ex and her husband so that the kids have a more balanced life with both parents. What is your advice about this?
I've been told that I shouldn't ask for child support reduction in the hearing I request for 50/50 custody. My ex and I make about the same amount of income so I have been told by some of my friends in neighboring counties that the judge will probably offset child support. What is your advice about this?
Should I ask for a GAL (Guardian ad litem) to be appointed so they can determine what is in the best interest of the children? I've heard from friends in Williamson county that a GAL is automatically appointed in cases like mine, and sometimes the GAL never even interviews the plaintiff party. Should I ask for one and what does a GAL supposed to do and provide to the court?
What are the best points to present what's in the best interest of our children? I already attend as many extracurricular activities as I can and for example I cook for them every day, work with each of them on making sure their school work and projects are completed on time, and even trim their finger and toe nails every week I have them. I can present countless facts like this as evidence I am a responsible father, but I am looking for advice to help me in court as these do not seem to be enough for them to even listen to. One time a judge told me that I should stop taking the kids for fast food and present something more nutritional even though I told him after I was accused of taking them to fast food all the time by my ex that I cook for them every day. How and what do I present to a judge so that they can listen and not just hear what I am telling them?
What's the best 50/50 custody arrangement? I've been told that some ask for weekly exchange on Tuesdays so that the children have time to plan for school events later in the week. How do summer and holidays work? Are they the same. I'm looking for the best and highest rated absolute solution for this. My youngest is 9 so I need this to be iron clad and tested.
I currently have 45/55 expanded state custody and pay $1700 a month in child support (includes insurance premium) for 3 children.
I am looking for advice on getting 50/50 custody and a reduced child support. My ex-wife remarried immediately after the divorce and I recently moved in with my fiance. I've asked for 50/50 since before the divorce, but my lawyer and I at the time were constantly on the defense from a barrage of unsubstantiated accusations from my ex's high priced lawyer. In the end we agreed to 45/55 expanded custody and full child support as well as monthly insurance premiums for the children (joint-conservators).
I have very little residual funds because my last lawyer advised me to move as close to the Austin neighborhood where the kids were in schools and into a comparable home as they were in before the divorce, even though I could barely afford it. As soon as I moved into the old neighborhood my ex moved the kids from their schools (Summitt Elementary neighborhood) without notice to me to a far corner of Travis County (Lago Vista). I barely make ends meet each month with the increased expenses of traveling and added daycare. I was counting on my position of working from home and the kids busing home to me from a local school to compensate for the increased expense of moving into the more expensive neighborhood/home. I cannot afford to live in Lago Vista as I travel to Austin locations sometimes for my work and the commute from a home office and other local amenities is too taxing for me and the kids. Its been hard, but I've fired the last lawyer that gave me this advice and asked me to gamble so that I could ask for 50/50. For a couple years now I managed to stay at the income I am at and within the expenses I currently have and still have not missed any possessions. I've also managed to fight off a false enforcement charge from my ex and her attempt to take the kids from me as her request to be sole conservator.
I'm looking for my next steps and possibly a better and more experienced lawyer that can help me with getting 50/50 custody. I am looking for a less confrontational agreement with my ex and her husband so that the kids have a more balanced life with both parents. What is your advice about this?
I've been told that I shouldn't ask for child support reduction in the hearing I request for 50/50 custody. My ex and I make about the same amount of income so I have been told by some of my friends in neighboring counties that the judge will probably offset child support. What is your advice about this?
Should I ask for a GAL (Guardian ad litem) to be appointed so they can determine what is in the best interest of the children? I've heard from friends in Williamson county that a GAL is automatically appointed in cases like mine, and sometimes the GAL never even interviews the plaintiff party. Should I ask for one and what does a GAL supposed to do and provide to the court?
What are the best points to present what's in the best interest of our children? I already attend as many extracurricular activities as I can and for example I cook for them every day, work with each of them on making sure their school work and projects are completed on time, and even trim their finger and toe nails every week I have them. I can present countless facts like this as evidence I am a responsible father, but I am looking for advice to help me in court as these do not seem to be enough for them to even listen to. One time a judge told me that I should stop taking the kids for fast food and present something more nutritional even though I told him after I was accused of taking them to fast food all the time by my ex that I cook for them every day. How and what do I present to a judge so that they can listen and not just hear what I am telling them?
What's the best 50/50 custody arrangement? I've been told that some ask for weekly exchange on Tuesdays so that the children have time to plan for school events later in the week. How do summer and holidays work? Are they the same. I'm looking for the best and highest rated absolute solution for this. My youngest is 9 so I need this to be iron clad and tested.