Am worried about losing custody of grandchildren

[mamsx2]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MD

I have had permanent custody of my 2 grandchildren (ages 8 & 13) for the last 5 years. The childrens father (my son) was in jail when I got custody and the mother (they were never married) has an on again off again drug problem and she relinquished custody when we went to court. The father moved out of state to avoid the police and after the first year began to call the children. He now has a new home, new girlfriend and new child. I do allow the children phone contact and we actually went to visit him last year. He now has said he is going to come back here to get his legal issues taken care of and try to regain custody of the children and continue to live out of state with them. When the children came to live with me and my husband they had only the clothes on their backs and had been living in hotels and empty houses under construction because they had been evicted from their home. They now have a stable home, many friends, are involved in church and sports and have come a long way from where they started. I also have never asked or received one dime of child support since custody. What are the chances of him coming back here and regaining custody if he can convince the courts he has turned his life around? I am certain he would have to do some jail time first because he has outstanding warrants in this state. My feeling is " a tiger can't change his stripes" but he can be very convincing as well as very sneaky. I almost want to say, bring it on because he may just screw himself and also may just end up being court ordered to now pay child support. I am losing sleep worrying about what may happen if he comes back. Any comments or suggestions would be very appreciated. Thank-you.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MDWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[Isis1]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MD

I have had permanent custody of my 2 grandchildren (ages 8 & 13) for the last 5 years. The childrens father (my son) was in jail when I got custody and the mother (they were never married) has an on again off again drug problem and she relinquished custody when we went to court. The father moved out of state to avoid the police and after the first year began to call the children. He now has a new home, new girlfriend and new child. I do allow the children phone contact and we actually went to visit him last year. He now has said he is going to come back here to get his legal issues taken care of and try to regain custody of the children and continue to live out of state with them. When the children came to live with me and my husband they had only the clothes on their backs and had been living in hotels and empty houses under construction because they had been evicted from their home. They now have a stable home, many friends, are involved in church and sports and have come a long way from where they started. I also have never asked or received one dime of child support since custody. What are the chances of him coming back here and regaining custody if he can convince the courts he has turned his life around? I am certain he would have to do some jail time first because he has outstanding warrants in this state. My feeling is " a tiger can't change his stripes" but he can be very convincing as well as very sneaky. I almost want to say, bring it on because he may just screw himself and also may just end up being court ordered to now pay child support. I am losing sleep worrying about what may happen if he comes back. Any comments or suggestions would be very appreciated. Thank-you.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MDWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

grandma, why wasn't child support court ordered LONG ago? that should have been done already. do so. both parents should still be responsible for their children.

if you have permanent custody, dad and mom would have to prove the children have a change of circumstance in a negative way for it to be considered.

were either parents granted visitation? supervised or otherwise?

 

[mamsx2]

Both parents were given "supervised" visitation to be supervised by me. The mother has not been drug free long enough for visitation in person but does have phone contact. The father was in jail during the custody hearing and when released left the state. Child support was never even brought up during the hearing and to be honest with you, I was so happy to just get the custody that it was not an issue for me. However, if he continues to push the issue of custody and we end up back in court I am sure that child support will be brought up. The mother can't hold a job long enough for it to even be an issue with her.