Preparing for custody and support order

[babe'kid]

Just starting custody/visitation and support order in CA. [father's request because he doesn't want to increase non-court ordered support] Child almost 5 years old.

1] Will I have to prove [in case father lies] that father has had the opportunity to be involved, but hardly contact child? Father has picked child up and dropped off a couple time at day care, and is on emergency card. Also has taken child to 3-4 Doctor's appointments. I have a few e-mails encouraging spending time with child. Will this be enough? What else will I need?

2] Child is on both mother's medical insurance and stepmom's insurance, but stepmom threatens to drop my child whenever she wants. Has actually dropped my child before. Does dad have to provide insurance? I use their's because it cost a lot less than if I use mine.

3] Father and wife has two minor children in home. Wife after working for years, is NOW planning to take a year off work. Will that affect the support that father is ordered to pay? [Not asking for stepmom to support my child.]

4] Child will be starting kindergarted this fall and will have to change childcare providers. Can that be dealt with in initial order, or will I have to go back to have order modified at that time?

5] Can money provided for foster child be counted as income?

Anwers/advise to any or all questions will be greatly appreciated. Just want to have as much information as possible when I go to mediation.

 

[july_child]

Documentation

1. You might as well assume that the father is going to lie and say that you've kept child from him. So if you have any witnesses or documentation that can back your case up, use it. You also need the date and times of all the dr appts (if you have them) and the ones he attended and whether or not if he was notified of all appts. I hope you have documented also what days he has picked the child up. Did you have a previous visitation agreement? Did he abide by it?
2. You can request that he provide insurance but that will lower the child support amount by whatever the insurance is.
3. Whatever the wife does, does not affect the child support you receive. Only what he does and maybe, depending on CA laws, how many children he has.
4. When you get the support order, it should tell you when it can modified.
5. Not sure about that. Call the child support office.

Good luck!

 

[babe'kid]

We never had any kid of order. He picked child up whenever he wanted, but hasn't initiated much contact in past couple years. He did pay non-court ordered support, just didn't want the amount increased.
Thanks for your response