question??

[cassandralu2002]

Hello, I have a couple questions about child custody. I got divorced 5 years ago and there was a child involved. My ex husband didnt show up to court so i basically got everything i wanted. He does pay child support but not listed in the the divorce papers. We have our own aggreement. He did not want to see his son up until he turned 4 years old. My son is now 6 years old and cries everytime he has to go to his dads. I stopped calling him to see if he wanted to see his son. I wanted to see if he would call but didnt. Over the past 2 years he is in and out of his life. I dont agree with the living arrangement over there. He does not have a seperate room to sleep in. He sleeps on a man made bed next to his dads and dads girlfriends bed. i guess my question is, is there a way for him to give up his rights and still pay child support?

 

[WhirledPeas]

Removal of parental rights is obtained in much more dire situations than what you've described. Overt child abuse, chronic and severe drug addiction, etc.

He's not legally obligated to visit, but as custodial parent you are obligated to follow the most current parenting plan and make your child available for dads visits. You don't have to contact dad to initiate them however.

You may want to get your son into a counselor to cope with this unpredictable situation. I'd also try to sit down with dad and let him know the effect of his off and on contact is having on the boy. Your boy needs his dad, ideal situation or not. If dad can agree to fewer but consistently predictable visits, it might be helpful all the way around.