HarleyLove81
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois
First the details:
Custody order currently on file states that the father shall have the three kids every other weekend, Friday after school, or at 4:00 when not in school, until Sunday at 3:00. He shall also have the day before any holiday and the children's birthdays from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
Kids are to be delivered and picked up at the grandfather's (father's dad) house by the mother. (This was due to the father's lacking driver's licence and him not having a permanent place of his own at the time of the order [over a year ago].)
Yep, it's that short and sweet.
In August the father established a permanent residence in a family friendly home and has access to alternate transportation.
The problem is that the mother has not provided the children on the father weekends since June except once in July and on Thanksgiving weekend. Of these we (me, the new wife, and the father) have filled out a police report with the local officer on six of the last seven father weekends. As the children and their mother reside in another town, our local officers cannot go directly to their house. On Christmas eve, she brought them late to the grandfather's house and threatened to pick them up early as they were actually at the father's residence not the grandfather's house. A local officer was asked to review the court order and he agreed that there was nothing stating that they had to stay at the grandfather's residence and no violation was in progress. The mother also did not deliver them on New Year's Eve. Each of these were recorded with the local authorities.
The mother does not respond to text messages asking about the weekends. She does not answer phone calls. She frequently would use the 14-year old as a relay messenger, but now even the 14-year old is not answering calls or texts. We do not use the children as messengers as that is inappropriate.
As the order says the mother is to bring the children to and from the father's visitation, we are hesitant to go to their residence as that would in itself violate the order. Per the advice of the local authorities, we have [in writing] suggested to meet at the police station to leave the grandfather out of the drama. We have also offered to assist with the transportation.
We have requested time in front of the judge, but are at the mercy of the courts for a date. So, now we sit and wait - without the kids. This week we will miss a birthday. My husband is very upset about not spending time with his kids. We are not sure what else we can do other than wait and play the paper-pushing game.
Any advice would be appreciated.
First the details:
Custody order currently on file states that the father shall have the three kids every other weekend, Friday after school, or at 4:00 when not in school, until Sunday at 3:00. He shall also have the day before any holiday and the children's birthdays from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
Kids are to be delivered and picked up at the grandfather's (father's dad) house by the mother. (This was due to the father's lacking driver's licence and him not having a permanent place of his own at the time of the order [over a year ago].)
Yep, it's that short and sweet.
In August the father established a permanent residence in a family friendly home and has access to alternate transportation.
The problem is that the mother has not provided the children on the father weekends since June except once in July and on Thanksgiving weekend. Of these we (me, the new wife, and the father) have filled out a police report with the local officer on six of the last seven father weekends. As the children and their mother reside in another town, our local officers cannot go directly to their house. On Christmas eve, she brought them late to the grandfather's house and threatened to pick them up early as they were actually at the father's residence not the grandfather's house. A local officer was asked to review the court order and he agreed that there was nothing stating that they had to stay at the grandfather's residence and no violation was in progress. The mother also did not deliver them on New Year's Eve. Each of these were recorded with the local authorities.
The mother does not respond to text messages asking about the weekends. She does not answer phone calls. She frequently would use the 14-year old as a relay messenger, but now even the 14-year old is not answering calls or texts. We do not use the children as messengers as that is inappropriate.
As the order says the mother is to bring the children to and from the father's visitation, we are hesitant to go to their residence as that would in itself violate the order. Per the advice of the local authorities, we have [in writing] suggested to meet at the police station to leave the grandfather out of the drama. We have also offered to assist with the transportation.
We have requested time in front of the judge, but are at the mercy of the courts for a date. So, now we sit and wait - without the kids. This week we will miss a birthday. My husband is very upset about not spending time with his kids. We are not sure what else we can do other than wait and play the paper-pushing game.
Any advice would be appreciated.