I have recently been served with papers from my ex for full custody of my daughter. I moved out of state with her, due to the fact my husband was verbally abusive, towards me, in front of our daughter, and in the declining marriage was threatening to kill me if i had ever left. I did not let him know immediatly where I was, because i was afraid he would come after me. I felt i had no other choice. My family knew i was leaving, and where i was going, but wouldn't tell my husband due to the threats. He had also stated that I was allowed to move out of state with her, but only if I lived with my parents. (I do know that leaving state was a horrible decision. I have no other contacts there, was a stay at home mother, and not allowed access to the bank account.)
After a week of being away, I called him so he could speak to our daughter. I never denied him contact to her, and went out of my way to make arrangements for him to see and speak to her. I realize that whatever may have happend between him and I, he was still her father and has a right to see and be in contact with her, and I want that to happen. I, under no circumstances would ever want to keep her from her father.
During the month, him and I made an agreement that he would spend the holidays with her, and then return her to me in the middle of January. In retrospect i realize that he manipulated me, told me whatever i wanted to hear, so that he was able to get our daughter. Since then, he's denying the fact we had a verbal agreement, and filed for custody. He doesn't have suffecient child care in his home state, so our daughter is currently living out of state with his family. He works 12 hour shifts, overnight, and goes to visit our daughter on his days off. He is now sending me threatening emails, refusing to allow me to see, visit, or talk to my daughter, and becoming verbally abusive again. Stating that our 3 year old doesn't want to see me, and I should stop trying to make him feel guilty. No one really knows of the verbal abuse except my mother who I told about it, never witnessed it. She has seen the recent emails though that he sent me. At the end of all the emails he says he feels bad about talking to me that way and if I would stop asking to see or speak to my daughter, he wouldn't need to get angry with me. (It's always been that way with him, if i wouldn't do "this" he wouldn't have to talk to me like "that") I fear that he's just trying to manipulate me again so I don't fight for custody. Any contact I've maintained has been to keep in contact with my daughter, and now I'm being denied that. Whenever I try to call his home, the answering machine picks up, or he picks up and immediatly hangs up on me. I have also called the place where my daughter is living, and again, there is no answer, or I get hung up on.
I have been the primary caretaker of our daughter since she was born. I quit my job and became a stay at home mother, due to his long overnight shifts at work. I'm the one she comes to when she's hurt or upset, I'm the one she comes to when she needs something, and she's been ripped away from that, not even being allowed to speak to me. I would go and get her, but I was advised by an attorney that it may not be the best idea because he may then file assault charges if they don't willingly hand her over. Would I be able to file for an emergency hearing for temporary custody in Florida, even though that isn't her home state? I'm just not really sure what my rights are here or the next step I should take.
After a week of being away, I called him so he could speak to our daughter. I never denied him contact to her, and went out of my way to make arrangements for him to see and speak to her. I realize that whatever may have happend between him and I, he was still her father and has a right to see and be in contact with her, and I want that to happen. I, under no circumstances would ever want to keep her from her father.
During the month, him and I made an agreement that he would spend the holidays with her, and then return her to me in the middle of January. In retrospect i realize that he manipulated me, told me whatever i wanted to hear, so that he was able to get our daughter. Since then, he's denying the fact we had a verbal agreement, and filed for custody. He doesn't have suffecient child care in his home state, so our daughter is currently living out of state with his family. He works 12 hour shifts, overnight, and goes to visit our daughter on his days off. He is now sending me threatening emails, refusing to allow me to see, visit, or talk to my daughter, and becoming verbally abusive again. Stating that our 3 year old doesn't want to see me, and I should stop trying to make him feel guilty. No one really knows of the verbal abuse except my mother who I told about it, never witnessed it. She has seen the recent emails though that he sent me. At the end of all the emails he says he feels bad about talking to me that way and if I would stop asking to see or speak to my daughter, he wouldn't need to get angry with me. (It's always been that way with him, if i wouldn't do "this" he wouldn't have to talk to me like "that") I fear that he's just trying to manipulate me again so I don't fight for custody. Any contact I've maintained has been to keep in contact with my daughter, and now I'm being denied that. Whenever I try to call his home, the answering machine picks up, or he picks up and immediatly hangs up on me. I have also called the place where my daughter is living, and again, there is no answer, or I get hung up on.
I have been the primary caretaker of our daughter since she was born. I quit my job and became a stay at home mother, due to his long overnight shifts at work. I'm the one she comes to when she's hurt or upset, I'm the one she comes to when she needs something, and she's been ripped away from that, not even being allowed to speak to me. I would go and get her, but I was advised by an attorney that it may not be the best idea because he may then file assault charges if they don't willingly hand her over. Would I be able to file for an emergency hearing for temporary custody in Florida, even though that isn't her home state? I'm just not really sure what my rights are here or the next step I should take.
