Forwarding children's mail

[heartwood]

What is the name of your state? Idaho

I received notice from USPS that a forward had been requested for my family, which would include my mail, from my current address.

I called the 1-800 number on the letter to report fraudulent change of address and I have been working with the Post Office to try and get this straightened out.

Information that has been gathered since then indicates my mail is being forwarded to my ex's address. The change was submitted with his name and our childrens' names as the persons indicated for the change of address; however, the request was changed and processed as a “Family” move.

Our divorce was final on June 4, 2004. We currently have shared and joint physical custody, and joint legal custody of three children under an interim order, he has the kids the majority of the time currently, but neither of us has primary custody.

I have filed a police report and am in the process of trying to recover any mail that has already been forwarded to him.

The children reside with us part of the year and with him part of the year and I think they should receive mail at both addresses as determined by the sender.

My ex has NEVER resided at my current address. Does he have the legal right to request an address change for an address where he has never resided? Does he have the legal right to forward mail for the children from my address?

 

[heartwood]

Does anyone know?

Do you know this could happen to any of you?
I've been back and forth with the USPS and all they can say is "it's a civil matter"
sooo - does anyone know how to start a petition or something that would create a law that a child has the right to receive mail at both parent's addresses UNLESS there is a court order or written consent. Or do children not have the same rights to privacy that we enjoy?
Any help would be hugely appreciated!!

 

[Silverplum]

Do you know this could happen to any of you?
I've been back and forth with the USPS and all they can say is "it's a civil matter"
sooo - does anyone know how to start a petition or something that would create a law that a child has the right to receive mail at both parent's addresses UNLESS there is a court order or written consent. Or do children not have the same rights to privacy that we enjoy?
Any help would be hugely appreciated!!

You are asking WAY too much of a message board. Call your congressperson.

 

[heartwood]

just asking

Silverplum, I thought this was more than just a message board? Isn't that why there's a big FREE ADVICE at the top of the page?
It's okay if no one knows - but since this is a free advice board I was hoping maybe someone could help me understand what my children's legal rights are.
I have sent a letter to congress.

 

[Silverplum]

Silverplum, I thought this was more than just a message board? Isn't that why there's a big FREE ADVICE at the top of the page?
It's okay if no one knows - but since this is a free advice board I was hoping maybe someone could help me understand what my children's legal rights are.
I have sent a letter to congress.

I was only responding to the portion of your message that I bolded. And this response is only in regard to that portion of your message.

If you haven't the sense to see that the SCOPE of your (bolded) questions were far too large for the ability of a legal message board to handle, despite the name and purpose of the board, then I don't know what to tell you.

You are asking someone to condense all court rules, laws, processes of the formation of laws, etc. etc. into some quick little answer on a message board. You casually want people to do TONS of research FOR you. Not gonna happen, at least not from me. And no one else has bothered to answer you.

Try the local library. Hire a lawyer in your area.

 

[new2this05]

But if the kids reside with him more of the time shouldn't they get their mail there? Or do you just plan on getting it at your house and then forwarding it to them at dad's house, in which birthday cards etc...wouldn't get to them on time.

 

[Ithildriel]

But if the kids reside with him more of the time shouldn't they get their mail there? Or do you just plan on getting it at your house and then forwarding it to them at dad's house, in which birthday cards etc...wouldn't get to them on time.

Part of the problem is that he put it as a "family" move, so her mail could possibly have been getting forwarded to him as well.

Of course the evil way out of it is for her to put in a forward for the kids from his address to hers. Hehe enough of this back and forth and then maybe the post office wont see it as a "civil matter". (Where's that "wicked" smiley)

Another (less evil) option would be possibly to get a PO Box for the kids mail?

 

[new2this05]

Part of the problem is that he put it as a "family" move, so her mail could possibly have been getting forwarded to him as well.

Of course the evil way out of it is for her to put in a forward for the kids from his address to hers. Hehe enough of this back and forth and then maybe the post office wont see it as a "civil matter". (Where's that "wicked" smiley)

Another (less evil) option would be possibly to get a PO Box for the kids mail?

I see the problem with her mail being taken as well. She could just do another one for herself back to her home so that she gets her own mail. I don't know if I would want to make the post office mad...you could end up not getting mail at all.

 

[Ithildriel]

I don't know if I would want to make the post office mad...you could end up not getting mail at all.

Since all I get are bills and junk mail, that wouldn't be such a bad thing.

 

[ceara19]

But if the kids reside with him more of the time shouldn't they get their mail there? Or do you just plan on getting it at your house and then forwarding it to them at dad's house, in which birthday cards etc...wouldn't get to them on time.

If dad thinks the kids should get their mail at his house (which they're kids, how much mail can they be getting?), he needs to inform all of the people that mail things to the children of the change of address. He has no right to fill out a change of address card for an address at which he has never lived.

 

[new2this05]

If dad thinks the kids should get their mail at his house (which they're kids, how much mail can they be getting?), he needs to inform all of the people that mail things to the children of the change of address. He has no right to fill out a change of address card for an address at which he has never lived.

I guess she should just do a COA back to her house.

 

[ceara19]

I guess she should just do a COA back to her house.

She needs to. She also needs to take dad back to court and make sure he doesn't do this again. Last time I moved, I remember reading on the COA card that it was a federal offense to fill out, sign and submit the card if you were not a party to the COA.

 

[new2this05]

So if he hadn't marked family but done seperate changes for each of the children then legally it would be okay? Not that it was right, but without a specification by the courts there isn't anyway to know which house should be listed as the children's mailing address. Obviously this is a house that she has gotten since the divorce, is the house he is living the residence that the children have lived at longer?

 

[ceara19]

So if he hadn't marked family but done seperate changes for each of the children then legally it would be okay? Not that it was right, but without a specification by the courts there isn't anyway to know which house should be listed as the children's mailing address. Obviously this is a house that she has gotten since the divorce, is the house he is living the residence that the children have lived at longer?

I don't remember the exact wording. But dad's just being petty and controlling. How much mail are the kids getting? Who do kids usually get mail FROM? Wouldn''t you think that dad's family would know the children's new address? It sounds like he's trying to intercept the mail from MOM'S family too, which he really doesn't have the right to do. If they wanted the mail to go to dad's they would have gotten that address from mom.

 

[heartwood]

I don't remember the exact wording. But dad's just being petty and controlling. How much mail are the kids getting? Who do kids usually get mail FROM? Wouldn''t you think that dad's family would know the children's new address? It sounds like he's trying to intercept the mail from MOM'S family too, which he really doesn't have the right to do. If they wanted the mail to go to dad's they would have gotten that address from mom.

Thank you Ceara! You see exactly my point - my children have the right to receive mail from my family at their address with me. My family does not want correspondence from them going to their address with their dad.

And yes - he submitted the change of address for the entire FAMILY - I haven't received mail for almost two weeks because it is being held at the post office until the postal inspector okays it to be released. I don't know how much of my mail my ex has in his possession - and some of it is quite possibly correspondenced from my attorney concerning custody matters.

The bigger concern for me is exactly what has been discussed in this thread - what (besides common sense and my belief in my children's right to privacy) is to stop me from submitting a COA from his house to mine for their mail every time he submits one from mine? If I do, then they don't get mail from his family at his house, and it gets tied up in dispute at the post office.

Silver, I didn't mean to offend - I just wanted to clarify that I am asking for advice and I do believe there are individuals on this board who could at least get me pointed in the right direction because perhaps they have experience. Your advice to write my congressman has been taken; but I think there is more we can all do.