father wants more parenting time

[michiganmom2005]

What is the name of your state?michigan
my exhusband signed a custody agreement which entitled him to one overnight a week and everyother weekend. joint custody. this was only six months ago. he is now bringing me into court saying he needs more time with the kids. although in a perfect world, that would be great, my kids are happy with the way things are. he is saying i'm unfit to have them as much as i do. i take care of my kids and have proof to counter the things he's accussing me of. REAL PROOF.
Can he do this and if so should I bring my kids to court with me. We are going in front of a referee but if we don't agree with him we can request to go in front of our judge.
Thanks for your time

 

[brisgirl825]

What you already have is pretty standard. If you don't agree in mediation, it'll be up to the judge to decide. Don't take the kids. It looks bad to try and bring them in the middle. Whether or not your ex would get more time is unknowable. However, he has a huge burden of proof to prove you unfit. So if that is his basis for modification, it won't get very far.
Have you considered offering something like every Tues and Thurs?

GL.

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state?michigan
my exhusband signed a custody agreement which entitled him to one overnight a week and everyother weekend. joint custody. this was only six months ago. he is now bringing me into court saying he needs more time with the kids. although in a perfect world, that would be great, my kids are happy with the way things are. he is saying i'm unfit to have them as much as i do. i take care of my kids and have proof to counter the things he's accussing me of. REAL PROOF.
Can he do this and if so should I bring my kids to court with me. We are going in front of a referee but if we don't agree with him we can request to go in front of our judge.
Thanks for your time

If he signed a custody agreement six months ago he would have to prove a SUBSTANTIAL change in circumstance in order to get a judge to order a change at this point.

No, you shouldn't bring your children with you...You should just be prepared to refute his accusations...he has to prove them.

Either of you can appeal to the judge if you disagree with the referee's decision.

 

[VeronicaGia]

What is the name of your state?michigan
my exhusband signed a custody agreement which entitled him to one overnight a week and everyother weekend. joint custody. this was only six months ago. he is now bringing me into court saying he needs more time with the kids. although in a perfect world, that would be great, my kids are happy with the way things are. he is saying i'm unfit to have them as much as i do. i take care of my kids and have proof to counter the things he's accussing me of. REAL PROOF.
Can he do this and if so should I bring my kids to court with me. We are going in front of a referee but if we don't agree with him we can request to go in front of our judge.
Thanks for your time

If you were relegated to one overnight a week and every other weekend, would you be happy with that? Why not agree to change the order so the kids can spend more time with their father? These are, after all, his kids too.

 

[nextwife]

If you were relegated to one overnight a week and every other weekend, would you be happy with that? Why not agree to change the order so the kids can spend more time with their father? These are, after all, his kids too.

I agree. Why should a father even NEED to prove mom Unfit to get equitable parenting time with their child? One night and EOW is a BS schedule for any one parent to be religated to! Kids need a good regular dose of time with BOTH their parents. Not have one be virtually a visitor, instead of a parent.

Thank goodness my parents stayed together. Those nightly chats with my dad at the dinner table were important in many ways in who I grew up to be and giving me the confidence and self assurance that my mom just wasn't capable of providing me. Dad's are no less important to a child and should have no less time with their kids. I can't imagine having lost out on 80% of that time.

 

[michiganmom2005]

I agree that kids need both parents but my question still remains the same. can he get this changed after only 6 months of divorce. there is so much more to the story but all i want to say is he made this choice. i won't bad mouth him but the only and i mean Only effort he's made to see them more is this court proceeding. he does not call them at all the week he doesn't see them. like i said his choice, not mine.

 

[LdiJ]

I agree that kids need both parents but my question still remains the same. can he get this changed after only 6 months of divorce. there is so much more to the story but all i want to say is he made this choice. i won't bad mouth him but the only and i mean Only effort he's made to see them more is this court proceeding. he does not call them at all the week he doesn't see them. like i said his choice, not mine.

Refer back to the answer that I gave you above.

 

[haiku]

I agree that kids need both parents but my question still remains the same. can he get this changed after only 6 months of divorce. there is so much more to the story but all i want to say is he made this choice. i won't bad mouth him but the only and i mean Only effort he's made to see them more is this court proceeding. he does not call them at all the week he doesn't see them. like i said his choice, not mine.

What do you mean the week he does not see them?

my exhusband signed a custody agreement which entitled him to one overnight a week and everyother weekend.

As LDiJ has stated, being as not alot of time has passed he would have to prove substantial change in circumstance. So yes he can, and you must leave the children home.

Try to remember who really gets hurt in the "your parent only gets to parent you, when the court order says so" argument........