What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? North Carolina.
I am the step-mother. The custody issue involves my step-daughter.
We recently went to court and the judge decided: Joint Custody with Primary residence being the mother's.
I used to be friends with the mother. We met in 1992. She introduced me to my husband 7 years ago when they were dating.
Background: She never wanted children. She doesn't like children. She doesn't know how to deal with children. (Her words) She got pregnant and delivered in 2004. I began watching the baby when she was 6 weeks old. She wanted NOTHING to do with the child. I practically raised the child. In fact, the child called me mom. (I asked the mom if this was ok. She said yes, that I was like a mother to her) The child spent nights with me, and weekends too.
Father and I became good friends because we took the kids out together all the time. In July 2008 the father and I began dating. The mother found out in December and kicked the father out. (Even after she encouaged us to date) She filed for custody, a temp order was put into place and we went to court and the judge decided in her favor.
She and her attorney focused her side of the case on:
1. My religion.
2.My beilef in the paranormal.
3. Items I wanted to sell. (Common items listed on many Wiccan sites)
4. Her attorney called me a con-artist.
5. He asked me questions about my son's beliefs.
6. He accused me of being sought by South Carolina authorities.
7. He made fun of my religious beliefs in his closing argument.
As for my husband:
1. Accused him of currently using drugs even after he admitted that he used to but does not anymore.
2. Accused him of being an irresponsible gun owner. (He has a Concealed Weapon Permit)
3. Accused him of being a pill junkie.
Now, all we wanted to focus on was what was in the best interest of the child. HOWEVER, his attorney NEVER allowed us to defend ourselves against the many accusations she presented, never called ANY of the witnesses we had that could have proven what a horrible mother she is.
Never argued when my religion was brought up EVEN THOUGH THE CHILD'S MOTHER IS A PAGAN TOO!!!!!
The Judge never stopped her attorney from questioning me about my religion. In fact, he didn't present ANY evidence that we had already given him that would have disputed what she claimed as well as proved that she was not what she claimes to be!
What we want:
We want a fair order!
We want another chance to present our evidence with a DIFFERENT attorney, and we want the current Judge recused.
Right now the order makes NO mention of the fact that the child is in school in OUR district.
No mention of the fact that the mother signed a notarized paper agreeing to the child being in our district!
No mention of the fact that we sit down every day and help the child with her homework.
No mention of this 53 year old man who is an ex-boyfriend of the mother who hangs around her house 30 hours a week (mother testified to this in deposition) just to watch the child because the mother doesnt want to!
No mention of all the crap this man is filling this child's head with, like "Bread will make you fat!" I mean, for the love of all things right and proper, this child is 5 years old!
He also tells the child that because the father and I smoke, that every time she hugs me or her dad that she is smoking too, or that every time she coughs he tells her she has a smoker's cough! WE DON'T SMOKE AROUND THE CHILD!
Our lawyer was worthless, and the judge never mentioned ANYTHING we said, ONLY what the mother's side said.
Heck, the mother wanted to give the father custody last year so she could move to Arizona! Then she changed her mind and wanted to move to South Carolina and wanted the dad to have custody.
SHE TOLD ME THIS HERSELF!!!!
Now, she denies it, but we NEVER got a chance to even question her on it! My husband's attorney NEVER acted on ANYTHING we gave him! We even supplied him with my husbands medical records PROVING he had prescriptions and legitimate reason to HAVE the pain killers in the first place!
I am so angry right now I could spit nails. I have cared for this child since she was a tiny baby. I have treated her like she was my own! ALWAYS! I love this child like she IS my own.
So HOW do we appeal this? (The attorney said we couldn't)
AND How do we have the judge recused?
AND Is there a way to set precedence regarding my religious beliefs?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
I am the step-mother. The custody issue involves my step-daughter.
We recently went to court and the judge decided: Joint Custody with Primary residence being the mother's.
I used to be friends with the mother. We met in 1992. She introduced me to my husband 7 years ago when they were dating.
Background: She never wanted children. She doesn't like children. She doesn't know how to deal with children. (Her words) She got pregnant and delivered in 2004. I began watching the baby when she was 6 weeks old. She wanted NOTHING to do with the child. I practically raised the child. In fact, the child called me mom. (I asked the mom if this was ok. She said yes, that I was like a mother to her) The child spent nights with me, and weekends too.
Father and I became good friends because we took the kids out together all the time. In July 2008 the father and I began dating. The mother found out in December and kicked the father out. (Even after she encouaged us to date) She filed for custody, a temp order was put into place and we went to court and the judge decided in her favor.
She and her attorney focused her side of the case on:
1. My religion.
2.My beilef in the paranormal.
3. Items I wanted to sell. (Common items listed on many Wiccan sites)
4. Her attorney called me a con-artist.
5. He asked me questions about my son's beliefs.
6. He accused me of being sought by South Carolina authorities.
7. He made fun of my religious beliefs in his closing argument.
As for my husband:
1. Accused him of currently using drugs even after he admitted that he used to but does not anymore.
2. Accused him of being an irresponsible gun owner. (He has a Concealed Weapon Permit)
3. Accused him of being a pill junkie.
Now, all we wanted to focus on was what was in the best interest of the child. HOWEVER, his attorney NEVER allowed us to defend ourselves against the many accusations she presented, never called ANY of the witnesses we had that could have proven what a horrible mother she is.
Never argued when my religion was brought up EVEN THOUGH THE CHILD'S MOTHER IS A PAGAN TOO!!!!!
The Judge never stopped her attorney from questioning me about my religion. In fact, he didn't present ANY evidence that we had already given him that would have disputed what she claimed as well as proved that she was not what she claimes to be!
What we want:
We want a fair order!
We want another chance to present our evidence with a DIFFERENT attorney, and we want the current Judge recused.
Right now the order makes NO mention of the fact that the child is in school in OUR district.
No mention of the fact that the mother signed a notarized paper agreeing to the child being in our district!
No mention of the fact that we sit down every day and help the child with her homework.
No mention of this 53 year old man who is an ex-boyfriend of the mother who hangs around her house 30 hours a week (mother testified to this in deposition) just to watch the child because the mother doesnt want to!
No mention of all the crap this man is filling this child's head with, like "Bread will make you fat!" I mean, for the love of all things right and proper, this child is 5 years old!
He also tells the child that because the father and I smoke, that every time she hugs me or her dad that she is smoking too, or that every time she coughs he tells her she has a smoker's cough! WE DON'T SMOKE AROUND THE CHILD!
Our lawyer was worthless, and the judge never mentioned ANYTHING we said, ONLY what the mother's side said.
Heck, the mother wanted to give the father custody last year so she could move to Arizona! Then she changed her mind and wanted to move to South Carolina and wanted the dad to have custody.
SHE TOLD ME THIS HERSELF!!!!
Now, she denies it, but we NEVER got a chance to even question her on it! My husband's attorney NEVER acted on ANYTHING we gave him! We even supplied him with my husbands medical records PROVING he had prescriptions and legitimate reason to HAVE the pain killers in the first place!
I am so angry right now I could spit nails. I have cared for this child since she was a tiny baby. I have treated her like she was my own! ALWAYS! I love this child like she IS my own.
So HOW do we appeal this? (The attorney said we couldn't)
AND How do we have the judge recused?
AND Is there a way to set precedence regarding my religious beliefs?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
