calling a child as a witness

[lookinnomore]

does anyone know what the legal limit in Virginia is for calling a child as a witness is?

BM has called the children 13 and 11 as her witness in the coming hearing in May.  We (BF and I the girlfriend) think it is wrong to put these children in the middle and make them choose sides.  Does anyone know in Virginia what the legal age limit is?  

The boys did go to the social service interview and they have a GAL attorney.  Mom is busy buying the boys to get them to say what she wants them to say in court.  She can't prove our home, where they currently live and have for the last 5 years unfit, or unsafe, but we are afraid they will say they want to go back and live with her, for the sole reason of what she promises them in return.

Any ideas?

[sld02]

Is she really calling the children as witnesses or just letting the judge speak to them in chambers?  Usually the rule in VA is 10.

Is BM re-married?  Do the and BF co-habitate?  They GAL's are usually pro-mother and do not like BD shaking up with GF.  Is marriage in your future?

At this age your BF should be secure enough in his relationship with his children that nothing she will be able to buy can compete with that!  If they are already talking to the GAL, she can speak on their behalf in court anyway.

Where in VA do you live?  I'm in Richmond and know all of the judges fairly well in Henrico County.

[sld02]

Is she really calling the children as witnesses or just letting the judge speak to them in chambers?  Usually the rule in VA is 10.

Is BM re-married?  Do the and BF co-habitate?  They GAL's are usually pro-mother and do not like BD shaking up with GF.  Is marriage in your future?

At this age your BF should be secure enough in his relationship with his children that nothing she will be able to buy can compete with that!  If they are already talking to the GAL, she can speak on their behalf in court anyway.

Where in VA do you live?  I'm in Richmond and know all of the judges fairly well in Henrico County.

[sld02]

Is she really calling the children as witnesses or just letting the judge speak to them in chambers?  Usually the rule in VA is 10.

Is BM re-married?  Do the and BF co-habitate?  They GAL's are usually pro-mother and do not like BD shaking up with GF.  Is marriage in your future?

At this age your BF should be secure enough in his relationship with his children that nothing she will be able to buy can compete with that!  If they are already talking to the GAL, she can speak on their behalf in court anyway.

Where in VA do you live?  I'm in Richmond and know all of the judges fairly well in Henrico County.

[KAT]

Ideas! YUP. If you have the same GAL we had in Virginia Beach then you are dead in the water.

KAT

[lookinnomore]

Yes, she has the children on her list of witness we were rather shocked!  But kinda nothing we can do to stop her.  Not letting them talk to the judge calling them to the stand for her attorney to question.  This is the same woman who took her 13 to a party with her over her weekend visit and then drove him home after drinking all night at the party.  Child told my daughter who also lives with us, that he was kinda afraid.

BM is recently remarried, which is when all this started.  The BF and I do co-habitate and no marriage is not in our future, although we are VERY happy.

As for BF relationship, its GREAT, but you know the old saying grass always looks greener on the other side right?

I live in Prince WIlliam County, like 45 minutes from you.

[lookinnomore]

I will also say the social service lady told us at the close of our interview she saw no reason to move the boys.  

GAL couldn't get BM to call her back as of yet, saw no reason to even see the boys.  NExt court date is end of May

[sld02]

Can you compromise?  It is always better to try and work it out before court.

I wasn't judging you by the living together thing.  I just know that the courts do not like it.

This is why maybe it would be better to work out a shared custody agreement.  Do you and the BM get along?

[lookinnomore]

BM and BF can't communicate on the grounds of anything.  

BM never asks for extra time, he (BF) has offered extra time, BM never accepts or asks for any.  Not throwing stones, but I think it all rolls down to money.  She can ask for the boys back and stop paying child support.

She has 2kids, that were born of the marriage that aren't his, that are failing in school, and are home alone after school, one would think she would devote some time to them before struggling to get these two back.