As concisely as I can:
I was somewhat forced to sign custody over to my ex in 2006 when I lost my job and then my apartment (from not being able to find work and pay the rent). I moved into my parents' home 2 hours away for 5 months to get back on my feet. During that time, he finally had his shot at getting full custody (we had joint at the time). He knew I had no money to hire a lawyer, so he told me that if I didn't sign the papers he had drawn up that he would take me to court. I couldn't afford an attorney and I know not to walk in front of this judge without one, so I signed them and told him we would resume joint custody when I moved back into town.
5 years later, he still refuses to give back joint custody. I've tried for years, and so have my daughters (ages 15 and 11 now), to get him to resume joint custody. He refuses and calls them ungrateful brats for asking. Just recently, he told me he wanted to go back to our arrangement of every other week with the kids, but that he didn't want paperwork involved. (He has always tried to control me, and this is his way of getting away from the kids to be with his NOW wife, WAS girlfriend at the time, but still having the "say so" in everything.) He even tells the schools that I can't pick my kids up without his permission!
His own mother has told me and my daughters that they should just tell him they want to move in with me because he's so mad all the time. He's emotionally abusive and manipulative with them. He scares them to death with all the screaming in their faces. He grounds them and takes away phones and privileges at the drop of a hat. I have photos of my oldest daughter's neck where he came into MY house when I wasn't home and put his hand around her throat. His own new wife complained to me that he is mean and disrespectful to her in front of his family and friends. His mother told me he doesn't know what he's doing when it comes to raising girls. (She would NEVER tell HIM that, though.)
What I need to know is how to get them back to me. The age in Tennessee is 12 for proper/significant weight to be given to a minor's request as to which parent they want to live with. However, I don't have $5,000 for an attorney. Is there an easier/less expensive way?
I asked his wife to convince him sign the paperwork when I get it ready, and she agreed, but she'll probably decide not to. The only attorney I've contacted so far wants five grand to just type up a revised custody agreement. Everyone is so afraid of him, but I've never seen him stand up to a man. He only pushes around women and little girls so I don't see why. He just flies off the handle at the smallest things, so everyone avoids making him mad.
How can I get my girls back into my house??
I was somewhat forced to sign custody over to my ex in 2006 when I lost my job and then my apartment (from not being able to find work and pay the rent). I moved into my parents' home 2 hours away for 5 months to get back on my feet. During that time, he finally had his shot at getting full custody (we had joint at the time). He knew I had no money to hire a lawyer, so he told me that if I didn't sign the papers he had drawn up that he would take me to court. I couldn't afford an attorney and I know not to walk in front of this judge without one, so I signed them and told him we would resume joint custody when I moved back into town.
5 years later, he still refuses to give back joint custody. I've tried for years, and so have my daughters (ages 15 and 11 now), to get him to resume joint custody. He refuses and calls them ungrateful brats for asking. Just recently, he told me he wanted to go back to our arrangement of every other week with the kids, but that he didn't want paperwork involved. (He has always tried to control me, and this is his way of getting away from the kids to be with his NOW wife, WAS girlfriend at the time, but still having the "say so" in everything.) He even tells the schools that I can't pick my kids up without his permission!
His own mother has told me and my daughters that they should just tell him they want to move in with me because he's so mad all the time. He's emotionally abusive and manipulative with them. He scares them to death with all the screaming in their faces. He grounds them and takes away phones and privileges at the drop of a hat. I have photos of my oldest daughter's neck where he came into MY house when I wasn't home and put his hand around her throat. His own new wife complained to me that he is mean and disrespectful to her in front of his family and friends. His mother told me he doesn't know what he's doing when it comes to raising girls. (She would NEVER tell HIM that, though.)
What I need to know is how to get them back to me. The age in Tennessee is 12 for proper/significant weight to be given to a minor's request as to which parent they want to live with. However, I don't have $5,000 for an attorney. Is there an easier/less expensive way?
I asked his wife to convince him sign the paperwork when I get it ready, and she agreed, but she'll probably decide not to. The only attorney I've contacted so far wants five grand to just type up a revised custody agreement. Everyone is so afraid of him, but I've never seen him stand up to a man. He only pushes around women and little girls so I don't see why. He just flies off the handle at the smallest things, so everyone avoids making him mad.
How can I get my girls back into my house??