Mother left... now wants child back

[Catey22]

I live in Arkansas. My stepdaughter's mother left when her daughter was 3, and for the last 5 years, her father and I have had "joint" custody (even though she chooses to see her daughter approximately one weekend a month). My stepdaughter's mother has moved out of state. My husband and I just had a baby, and now she wants her daughter back. She states that she wants a "trial custody arrangement" over the summer. Obviously, we don't want this to happen. The last two times we have tried this with her, she has left at the drop of a hat, without any forwarning to us or our daughter. It has TREMENDOUSLY affected the self-esteem of our daughter. Is there any way we can fight this in court, citing, perhaps, previous conduct? She also works 60+ hours/week.

 

[LegalBeagle]

I live in Arkansas. My stepdaughter's mother left when her daughter was 3, and for the last 5 years, her father and I have had "joint" custody (even though she chooses to see her daughter approximately one weekend a month). My stepdaughter's mother has moved out of state. My husband and I just had a baby, and now she wants her daughter back. She states that she wants a "trial custody arrangement" over the summer. Obviously, we don't want this to happen. The last two times we have tried this with her, she has left at the drop of a hat, without any forwarning to us or our daughter. It has TREMENDOUSLY affected the self-esteem of our daughter. Is there any way we can fight this in court, citing, perhaps, previous conduct? She also works 60+ hours/week.

I do not understand how you, the step parent, is on any custody agreement. However, assuming that the father has court ordered physical custody, then with her past, she does not have any chance to change things. He only has to agree to what a court has ordered him to.

 

[Catey22]

Husband has custody

My apologies. My husband has the court order for joint custody. I'm afraid that I almost always use the term "we" when referring to things that affect our family.