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Is there anyone who can tell us more about the laws in Texas concerning joint custody, visitations and child support?  We have court orders in effect in IL, now jurisdiction has moved and we know nothing about the state.  We need to find an attorney ASAP before ex files papers with us caught with no where to turn?

Thanks,
Lynn

We keep a log and calendar.  It happens, just not often enough to get a ruling that she is purposely doing it.  She stays right along the line.

We are going to return to court though to get a few matters straightened out, such as notifying us when the family goes out of town, giving us a contact number each time they go out of town.  Possibly adding that every time they are in our area, they are to notify is one week prior and for each week they are in our area we get 48 continuous hours(such as when the family comes up for a visit outside of our visitation[the time at Christmas, the extra weeks of summer visit-like this time they left SD with maternal grandparents for 2 weeks, I would like 2 overnight visits]

Ex isn't the greatest parent in the world, but just enough we can't do anything.  We have nothing to fight for custody with, regardless of the fact its hard to create a lasting bond only 10 weeks a year and there is almost no bond between the SD and her siblings here.  SD has had that opportunity with her other siblings and she has a good relationship with her mother.  We want that same opportunity

My DH and I would LOVE to have custody of SD. She is 12 now.  Right now if asked she would stay with mommy because that is all she knows. Her mom does not work and never has had to.  She has 2 siblings in TX where they are currently living.  They just built a house. Ex'shusband is in the military and is currently away(but not for long enough).  We tend to have more of problem with him than with her.  He has avery bad temper.  He used to hit ex, but have no proof as to whether it is still going on.  He tries to cause any problem possible, such as calling Public Aid in IL because we weren't paying child support.  He forgot to tell them it is abated in the summer when we have SD(he called in July).  That got them and the State's Attorney involved.  State's Attorney tried to up child support and we had to go pro se and prove the income wasn't there.
We have 3 children here, we live in an old part of town(not the best area,but it could be worse).  Our house is falling down around our ears, we struggle to pay bills every month.  I work parttime(because that is what I could get--still looking for better), but I still need to be full-time mom(cannot pay for daycare).

We get approximately 10 weeks visit a year, but we have to struggle with ex(and her husband) to get the right dates and then we fight on times.  We have to save to pay the transportation costs from Texas to IL and pay for our 3 hr drive to pick SD up at airport.  Ex has enough money she can buy a ticket and travel at the drop of a hat.  When she does we lose communication with SD(which we are court ordered to have weekly)

SDU keeps "finding" arrears and sending us new withholdings.  We are paying about $100/week now.  We have written, called and faxed to get updated receipts and find out where the new "mistakes" are at.  We have been paying our support and arrears religously.  There is no reason for errors.

It's getting depressing dealing with ex.  Ex isn't the worst parent, but she could be better.  Ex's husband is just plain bad, but no proof, just what we hear inphone calls and from SD.  We think we could definately provide a more stable, loving environment for SD.  We would love for her to really know her other siblings.

We have nothing to go to court with.  Just wish for equal time and ex to behave.  Since no reason to fight her with in court, we are praying.

We will have to go to court this fall maybe, we need to get parts of the visitation order more thoroughly defined so ex will stop some of her snits.

Sadly, if you can't afford to pay, maybe you could make the same arrangements with the school, that they were going to make with ex.  Then you can either file contempt or you can go to small claims court.  You will need all the payment receipts from both of you.  The checks she bounced to the school, a copy of any agreements to pay from both of you.  You shouldn't have any trouble getting it through small claims court with the proper documentation.

The only thing I would do to add to it is try to get a copy of the court cases involving each party. You stated Crystal doesn't have a license.  Get a copy of the DMV record and court record to show why, have pictures of her driving(make sure the pictures are accurately dated).  Same with the people she is friends with.  If they have court records especially for violence, have their court records and pictures with her hanging out with them.  The more the better.  Bring in any court records from the other courts(even though they were dismissed).  If there are transcriptions-get a copy,it shows perjury.

Lynn

Anyone know Texas law, or attorneys or Fathers Rights groups in the Bell county area?

Go to a lawyer immediately.  Find out your rights.  Why have you never been able to see your daughter?  Make sure you can document everything!

Good luck

Does that apply to if you are in public or within your own home?

lynn

Take a camcorder with you and set one inside the house.  That way you have proof of her behavior inside the house.  Don't provoke her since the courts will see it and throw it out and your case too.  

Keep one with you or a voice activated cassette recorder(check your local laws), if you run into him, you will have it recorded.  Pull his records, pull any police records that mention him.  Try and get your wife to talk about the relationship.  If she does and its on tape, she is admitting how bad the treatment was.  If she goes back to him, it could show her to be an unfit parent.

Send them a notice of your court order, a copy of the statute that deals with medical information to the NCP and let them know as a parent you have a right to the medical information without permission from the other parent.  If they still do not wish to cooperate, let them know you will be filing a complaint with the medical board in regards to the way they run their office.  Talk with an attorney first to see who needs to be sent what.

Then send a certified letter to your ex that states she has 30 days from the day of the appoinment to notify you of the appointment and send you the bill.  If she chooses not to notify you within those 30 days then she has chosen to disregard the court order and she will be responable for the entire bill.  (Be prepared for court for this one though--you'll probably get a nasty response)

Or send the doctor $20(or so) a month and write in the memo(make a copy of the check) and state it is for your child's medical bill.  Include a self addressed stamped envelope and write(make a copy) that they are to send you a receipt and balance due.  (Make a copy of the bank statement that shows the check went thru)  DO NOT make the check out to the ex.

If they do not send you a receipt or a balance due, then you can show the court that you are making an attempt to pay and are being obstructed at each turn.  IF the doctors office returns the check(doubtful), keep the letter, the check and evelope(everything) and file it.  Transfer the money into another account(set one up for medical money) so you don't spend it.  Keep the transfer reciept and the banking statementts so if you have to go to court, you can show all the work you have done and that you have set the money aside until you get the required information/permission to settle your half of the bill.

If you provide the insurance, the insurance company should be sending you a statement after each appointment.  Try going thru them for the billing information.