Ok, what’s an “Oral Finding Recommendation”?

[ProSeDadinMD]

What is the name of your state? MD

Our scheduled 3-hour trial, scheduled for 9:30am, didn’t get started until 10am, and lasted until just before 5pm yesterday.

The Master saw/sees no reason for my Wednesday overnights to be removed.

The lawyer changed tack in his closing arguments, trying to turn it into an argument that my living situation(with my girlfriend(who is separated and has been for 7 years) and her son full time, and my daughter when she’s there) was unsuitable. Apparently, Little Miss Pro Se told …her … that she thought we were married.

Just before my closing argument/statement, I entered my proposed visitation schedule, which …her … lawyer seemed surprised to get(I’ve sent it to him via email previously), and seemed a little miffed with …her … when she said that she had recently seen it in one of my “stupid emails”.

I don’t believe that a lawyer would have done a better job than I did yesterday. Different yes, better no. The Master even said I was doing a good job, “for a layman”.

He basically told us at the end of the day that we, as adults, should be able to work it out, and that somebody(or everybody) won’t be happy with his decision if he has to set our schedule.

However, due to the length of the hearing, he didn’t rule yesterday. We are supposed to have an “Oral Finding Recommendation” on the 10th. I can either be physically present or via telephone. My problem is that I don’t really understand what that is. Any hints?

 

[fairisfair]

Wheeee 51.14 more Wednesdays this year.

Sounds to me like it is just a formality. He will state his findings, and an order will be entered. (unless you and Big Ole Ex Mrs. come to some kind of quickie resolution, hmmmmm...... chances of that happening?)

The fact that you can appear telephonically would indicate that there will not be any further evidence allowed to be presented at that time.

 

[ProSeDadinMD]

Thanks to you and everybody else who gave me sound advice.

Yeah, I’m pretty satisfied by the whole experience.

I’ve had to amend my visitation proposal slightly, based on the proposed move to ********. I’ve added a section regarding exchanging Little Miss Pro Se, in a small town approximately half way between there and my town. It was in an amended proposal that I submitted to …her… via email this morning. I am taking the Master at his word that we would be better off working this out between us.

Should I also file a copy to the court?

 

[fairisfair]

Thanks to you and everybody else who gave me sound advice.

Yeah, I’m pretty satisfied by the whole experience.

I’ve had to amend my visitation proposal slightly, based on the proposed move to Columbia. I’ve added a section regarding exchanging Little Miss Pro Se, in a small town approximately half way between there and my town. It was in an amended proposal that I submitted to …her… via email this morning. I am taking the Master at his word that we would be better off working this out between us.

Should I also file a copy to the court?

has she responded yet?

 

[ProSeDadinMD]

has she responded yet?

No, but I only sent it this morning.

On the other hand, that usually doesn't make a difference....

 

[ProSeDadinMD]

Ok, I sent this just after noon yesterday.

It’s almost the same as what I proposed before the trial/hearing, except for the highlighted parts.

********,

Here is a copy of my proposed visitation plan from court yesterday, suitably amended to take your proposed move to ********, MD, into account.


1. The current orders with regards to the visitation/custody schedule will remain intact (meaning that there will be no interruption of the current schedule of every other weekend and Wednesday overnight visits), and starting from the date of plaintiff’s proposed relocation to ********, MD, the parents will meet to exchange ****** in *****, MD(at approximately 6:15pm on Wednesday and every other Friday evenings, and at approximately 6:45am on Thursday and every other Monday mornings), which is approximately midpoint between ********, MD and **********, MD. Legal custody shall remain unchanged.

2. Both parties will be entitled to 4(four) weeks of vacation or uninterrupted parenting time, as they prefer, with 2(two) weeks of said parenting time to be taken during the summer months when ****** is on summer break. The remaining 2(two) weeks may be taken at each parents discretion at any time during the year, providing that it does not interfere with ******’s school schedule, or the following holiday schedule. A minimum of 30 days notice will be given for all vacation or uninterrupted parenting time to be taken.

3. Holiday(excluding school breaks, which are listed separately as follows) custody shall belong to whichever parent is in "possession" of ****** on the morning of said holiday with the following exceptions: a) Mothers Day(including the night of, to be returned no later than 9am the following morning if said holiday falls during the Fathers parenting time) shall revert to the Mother and Fathers Day (the night of, to be returned no later than 9am the following morning if said holiday falls during the Mothers parenting time) to the Father. b) Each parent shall have ****** on the day(or evening, depending on whether or not said birthday falls on a weekday or weekend day) of their respective birthdays(including the night of said birthday, to be returned no later than 9am the following morning if said birthday falls during the other parents parenting time). c) For ******’s birthday, the parents shall alternate, with the Mother having odd years and the Father even years, the day(from 10am including the night of, if said birthday falls on a weekend) or evening(from pick-up at daycare/school until the following morning if said birthday falls during a weekday) of ******’s birthday. d) For both Winter(Christmas) Break and Spring Break, both parents shall have half of each break, alternating first half(from pick-up after the last day of school prior to the break through 9am or morning drop-off at daycare Wednesday) and second half(from 9am Wednesday morning, or pick-up at daycare through the morning of the next school day), with Mother having first half on odd years and Father having the first half on even years. e) The Thanksgiving holiday weekend will be alternated, with ****** being in possession of Mother on odd years and Father even years. f) If the parent with possession of ****** on Christmas(depending on when in the Winter Break Christmas occurs) is within a reasonable driving distance(50 miles), ****** will spend from 5pm on Christmas Eve through 1pm on Christmas day with the non-custodial(for that portion of the break) parent. If Christmas occurs on a Wednesday, ****** will be returned to the parent maintaining custody for the second half of the break no later than 1pm.

4. Whichever parent is in possession of ****** on the morning of a day that ****** is ill, and unable to attend school, shall be responsible for her care on that "sick" day.

5. If, for a reason beyond either parents control, either parent is unable to complete their parenting time, they shall contact the other parent at least 4 hours prior to the expected pick-up time, and shall be entitled to a make-up day(to be performed within 2 weeks of the date of the interruption).

6. Child support shall be according to the current Guidelines for Child Support in Maryland, subject to income verification pursuant to §12-203 of The Child Support Guidelines of Maryland Law, as of whatever date we come to an agreement.

In item #1, I have tried to take into account the time that you stated for your commute, in an effort to make this as fair as possible to everyone involved.

Item #4 should alleviate your concerns regarding ******’s sick days

I am flexible with the schedules of items 2 and 3, as I recall that you had previously stated some reluctance to splitting the school breaks.

Please let me know of any changes you would be more comfortable with.

**** *********

This touches on every point that the Master made at the end of the hearing on Tuesday. I gave this to the Master that day, minus the highlighted portion, and I’d like him to take this move into consideration. Hence my question about forwarding this to the Master.

We only have until 4/10/07 to work something out, if we are going to be able to. Should I re-send this to her, or maybe forward this to her lawyer?

 

[ProSeDadinMD]

Ok, because I am impatient, I called the Master’s office, and asked how I would go about submitting my “modified” visitation schedule. I spoke with his assistant, who spoke with him with me holding. We tried to get …her … lawyer on the phone for a conference call, because I can’t submit something without the other party being made aware. Since we are working on a deadline of the 4/10, service isn’t feasible. When I asked if I should forward this to the lawyer via email, she said that that might help speed things along.

Update already…. Just had a conference call with the Master and …her …lawyer. The Master feels that anything else I submit would be considered “argument”, so doesn’t want it, and the lawyer stated that he probably wouldn’t read it till next Tuesday, which is the day of the “Oral Finding” .

However, the Master had another reason for calling the lawyer. Apparently …she … didn’t include disability payments on her financial statement. The Master isn’t sure if it will have an effect(credibility or support), but wants clarification. The lawyer claimed to know nothing about it.