florida and mass

[goneinsane]

I am hoping someone can advise me. My sons bio father is now back in our lives after being missing for 11 years. I have never chased him for child support cuz i just dont have it in me to fight anymore. I have being making a good living so we are lucky. I have been getting more and more court papers from him demanding partial custody and visitation. So I hired a florida attornery. With me being in massaschusetts I was really depending that they would do a good job. Boy was i mistaken. They lost a battle of child support and i thought we were fighting for visitation. So i was like oh great.. then the lawyer wanted more retainer money and i was like 'um no'. I realize they need to see each other and meet but after 11 years of us having no contact whatsoever i am not about to let my son go down there when i have no idea how they live, where they live , etc. I have never said a horrible thing concerning the dad to my son so the news was very exciting to him. We have been to a mediation meeting already. I appeared by telephone. We agreed on phone calls for now, he will come here for a face to face meeting but that is it.. the father kept going on and on about wanting his parental rights.. Hello, this has nothing to do with his rights.. Its about my son and what is in his best interest. Selfish. that is all i could think about. With christmas here and all , I cannot afford a lawyer. Doesnt massachusetts have to decide with me not florida. Why do i have to abide by their rules when i dont even live there? I dont have a problem with my son going there if i have the right to have him checked out as well as his wife. I would like to have how they live checked out , what kind of neighborhood they live in, etc.
Do i have that right? Thank you for listening to me. I really need help.

 

[LadyBlu]

I am hoping someone can advise me. My sons bio father is now back in our lives after being missing for 11 years. I have never chased him for child support cuz i just dont have it in me to fight anymore. I have being making a good living so we are lucky. I have been getting more and more court papers from him demanding partial custody and visitation. So I hired a florida attornery. With me being in massaschusetts I was really depending that they would do a good job. Boy was i mistaken. They lost a battle of child support and i thought we were fighting for visitation. So i was like oh great.. then the lawyer wanted more retainer money and i was like 'um no'. I realize they need to see each other and meet but after 11 years of us having no contact whatsoever i am not about to let my son go down there when i have no idea how they live, where they live , etc. I have never said a horrible thing concerning the dad to my son so the news was very exciting to him. We have been to a mediation meeting already. I appeared by telephone. We agreed on phone calls for now, he will come here for a face to face meeting but that is it.. the father kept going on and on about wanting his parental rights.. Hello, this has nothing to do with his rights.. Its about my son and what is in his best interest. Selfish. that is all i could think about. With christmas here and all , I cannot afford a lawyer. Doesnt massachusetts have to decide with me not florida. Why do i have to abide by their rules when i dont even live there? I dont have a problem with my son going there if i have the right to have him checked out as well as his wife. I would like to have how they live checked out , what kind of neighborhood they live in, etc.
Do i have that right? Thank you for listening to me. I really need help.

WHy was it filed for in FL? If you and the child are in MA that is where the custody, visitation, and support should be ruled on. I would call an attorney in MA and go for the free consultation. If you cannot afford an attorney, call the state Child support enforcement division. FL has no idea about the child or the history of non contact they shouldnt be ruling on a case that isnt in their jurisdiction and the FL attorney should have petitioned a change of jurisdiction for you instead of taking your money to fight the NCP in FL.