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gotmyown3

Member
What is the name of your state? AL but MS jurisdiction

My husband was given temporary custody of his 12 year old on 7-25-06 and then awarded permanent full custody on 12-1-06. The mother was given one weekend a month visitation, Easter, Mother's Day and Christmas alternating years. My stepdaughter last visited with her mother on 12-3-06. It did not go well, and I advised our attorney of the events that occurred during visitation as he requested. The mother was told in court to contact my husband to work out the Christmas visitation, because my husband and I are only off from work on Christmas day, and my stepdaughter is not out of school on the same schedule as her mother, who is a teacher in MS. The judge told her to call the father and discuss and not with the child or send any letters concerning visitation. All contact must be verbal.

Ok, I said all that to say this. My stepdaughter got an awful letter from her mother yesterday. The letter claims and I quote "I have tried to call you several times over this past week. My phone calls are neither answered nor returned. However, I feel the need to address the lies you told your father's attorney. It doesn't matter what you think or say. I'm not going to force you to visit me or my family as this will only encourage more lies." My stepdaughter was furious and wanted to tear the letter to pieces. Her mother has not called one time since visitation. She has not sent a card or a letter other than this. My husband is assuming she means she does not intend to see the child at Christmas since she has not tried to contact him.

Should he try to call his ex? She usually won't discuss anything and gets mean and sarcastic and hangs up. Or should he send a copy of the letter to our attorney and just assume she does not intend to see her daughter at Christmas?
 


BelizeBreeze

Senior Member
o.k. listen carefully.

You step back and stay out of this except to support YOUR husband. PERIOD.
Next, tell hubby to take the ORIGINAL (he retains a copy of the letter) to the attorney for his/her file. Then ask the attorney if there is a time limit required by the court in which the mother must arrange visitation. If there is, (i.e., one week before christmas) and she has not complied, then there is no visitation.

also, he can discuss with his attorney filing contempt charges against her.
 

gotmyown3

Member
Thanks for your reply. I do "step back" except for asking questions here for him. I don't read mail from the ex, or talk to her, or even discuss her, unless a situation comes up such as the aforementioned letter. I know I am a "legal stranger". BUT since I do live here, it's impossible not to know what's going on. I know my place as the stepmother.
 

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