Need help

[mmcgary03]

After leaving my ex-husband in October of 04, I was diagnosed with cancer and spent 2 years in and out of the hospital. Due to my health I left my daughter stay with my husband. After getting a clean bill of health, my ex and I began splitting time either our daughter equally until June 17 of this year (father's day), he called me at 8am and told me to meet him in one hour to pick up our daughter. He wouldn't answer any of my questions at all, just kept stating to meet him in an hour. Once I got to our meeting place, my ex got my daughter out of the car and put her in my truck, retrieved a large trash bag full of her clothes and put them in the bed of the truck. I asked him what was going on, he said that she wanted to live with me. I noticed he had scratches all over his arms, I asked what happened - first thing he said - nothing physical or mental (?). He told me that he would get all the information I needed to get our daughter enrolled in kindergarden. On the way home I asked my daughter what happened, she told me that my ex and his current girlfriend got into a fist fight and his girlfriend told my daughter that she didn't want her living at her house anymore, gave her a garbage bag and told her to pack her stuff because she was never coming back (my daughter is 5). I tried calling my ex for the next three days - no return calls, or anything, finally I get in touch with him almost a week later. By this time I already spent the money to get a new birth certificate, social security card, shot records, etc for school. He didn't call for a month to check on our daughter then out of the blue decides he wanted to get her for the weekend. She starts school in August, my question is how do I establish something stating she has been living full time with me since June 17, 2007 and should I file for child support? I did send an email to my local domestic relations office stating that he gave full custody to me on June 17. Is that enough or should I do something more? Also, I intend to claim her on my taxes this year - what do I need to prove she's lived with me more than half the year?

 

[Duranie]

If you have custody then you automatically claim her on taxes unless the decree says otherwise.

I would definitely file for child support. You should be able to go to your states child support website to start. he is entitled to the visitation whatever the decree says, however if you want to get that changes you have to go to court.

You can see if legal aid can help you but they are very busy and only take on a few cases. You should be able to file for child support on your own.