Could loose custody of 15 year old to father?

[July1985]

What is the name of your state? Michigan

My son moved with me 5 years ago from Michigan to Wisconsin and it was court approved. Since living in WI he has made great friends, plays in sports he never did before, and has great grades in school. Back in December of 2018, my son told an older cousin of his back in Michigan that he wanted to move back to Michigan. This older cousin then told my son's father this and it opened a can of worms. When my son first told me he wanted to move back because he missed his family there, he stated he only wanted to try it for a year and then make a decision. Our son went back and forth for months as to if he was going to move or not. When he would go to his dad's for visitation, he would come back saying he wanted to move, then be at our house and not really say for sure he wanted to move. He finally said no, that he was not going to move back to Michigan in May. Now, here in September, I received court papers from my ex requesting change of custody and for our son to be interviewed. There is no abuse or neglect, or anything else like that in our household. Could I actually loose custody of my son?

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

You don't mention how old your son is.

 

[Zigner]

You don't mention how old your son is.

15, per the title

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

Why people don't drop stuff like that into the body is beyond me.

 

[Just Blue]

Why people don't drop stuff like that into the body is beyond me.

After taking a moment to understand what you meant...yeah. I agree.

 

[not2cleverRed]

What is the name of your state? Michigan

My son moved with me 5 years ago from Michigan to Wisconsin and it was court approved. Since living in WI he has made great friends, plays in sports he never did before, and has great grades in school. Back in December of 2018, my son told an older cousin of his back in Michigan that he wanted to move back to Michigan. This older cousin then told my son's father this and it opened a can of worms. When my son first told me he wanted to move back because he missed his family there, he stated he only wanted to try it for a year and then make a decision. Our son went back and forth for months as to if he was going to move or not. When he would go to his dad's for visitation, he would come back saying he wanted to move, then be at our house and not really say for sure he wanted to move. He finally said no, that he was not going to move back to Michigan in May. Now, here in September, I received court papers from my ex requesting change of custody and for our son to be interviewed. There is no abuse or neglect, or anything else like that in our household. Could I actually loose custody of my son?

Well, it's always a possibility, in the sense that we here don't have all the facts, but...
...I have got to say that putting the kid the middle is a bad move on Dad's part, and we'd tell him that if Dad posted his side here.

-> You do have to respond, and respond effectively, to avoid a default judgement against you.
-> If Dad has retained a lawyer, you best do so yourself.
-> What is the "change of circumstances" in the petition? Is there anything more than "my son has greener grass syndrome" in the reasons listed?

Focus in your response on the "best interests of your son": the status quo, his opportunities and accomplishments where he is right now.

 

[stealth2]

On the other hand, it's not that tough to read the header...

 

[t74]

What was your reason for the move? What is the current visitation order? Why is it not in his best interest to move?

You should be willing to accept the visitation order dad currently has if primary custody is changed; after all, dad had lived with it for the last 5 years at least. A teenage boy has more in common - and often a better parent-child friendship - with his father because of common interests. Do you really like to spend the day watching football on TV pigging out on pop/bear and wings?

Also, comparing the activities of a child at 10 and 15 does not make sense. Teens are much more likely to be socially active with their peers than an elementary aged child.

 

[stealth2]

pigging out on pop/bear

Ya had me 'til "bear"...