gwo8639 said:
Have three kids that live with their mother in AL. I live in VA. We're not married and neither one of us has legal custody. They are coming to visit for christmas (hopefully). I want custody of them. Can I just keep them here with me and file here in VA? Since we've never been to court, is not returning them to their mother in any way against the law? I was told since nothing has been established in court that we both have equal rights as far as the kids are concerned and that whoever files first will more than likely get custody. Any advice or suggestions are appreciated.
I don't mean to sound rude, but.....Why do you want to do something so underhanded and hateful? My ex did this to me, a little different circumstances, but did it nonetheless. And do you know who is suffering? Our daughter, that's who! He not only got custody of her, because I had no way to fight, but then he has kept her hidden from me for the last 9 years! If you do this, take these children in the way you mentioned, I hope you get in big trouble, and your wife gets everything you are hoping to get for yourself. Even if you have a good reason for taking your children from their mother (who they need no matter what), you should do it the right way, not the sneeky, underhanded way you have proposed. It sounds to me like you have not thought about how this would affect your children. You have only considered your own selfish needs/wants. I have a son, whose father is a pathetic excuse for a parent. He never calls when he says he will, he doesn't pay child support, makes promises to my son that he never keeps, and it goes on and on. But I have NEVER said one thing to my son bad about his father. He will someday draw his own conclusion about his father, and I will not interfere in their relationship unless my son is in danger of any kind. It is unfair of us as parents to displace our feelings onto our children, so please remember this when you are with your children, no matter how you feel about their mother. She is and always will be their "mommy" and they deserve that.
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