Joint custody with shared parenting plan....?
604136
Follow court orders or you will risk losing your children.  Contact the court and request for a hearing before the judge.
642732
Joint physical custody is a nightmare! Don't make your kid's shuffle between houses more than they have too. Finances should always take a back seat to their welfare.
442546
Agreeing with the girl above.  Esp. about the journal.  Keep track of EVERYTHING.\n\nMy guess is also that it is a scare tactic.  Instability??? Please, is PRISON stable??? \n\nIf he has not supported the child, seen him, etc., you have nothing to worry about. Forget the joint custody the girl above mentioned, I would fight for supervised visitation if he gets to see the child at all.\n\nI am wondering where he got the $$ for any atty.\n\nHere is where you can also find a little comfort in the fact that courts like to keep kids with their mothers.\n\nYou do need to get a lawyer.  If you cannot afford one contact your local bar assocaition or pro bono program.  If you cannot get a lawyer fast enough, go to the court and file for a continuance.  DO NOT GO TO COURT ALONE!!\n\nBut as far as having any concerns about losing your child, I certainly wouldn't sweat it.  I know its hard not to worry, but if you are telling the whole story, he doesn't have a chance...
485901
well joint custody means that both parents share in custody of the child they raise the child the child has to split its time between the two they both make decisions regarding the child etc. full custody means one parent is solely responsible for the child they can make all the decisions for the child and the other parent is not gaurenteed visitation
1164926
No your income doesn't help.  Any children the two of you have will reduce his obligation to the ex.\n\nHe should petition for visitation and if he wants it, joint custody.  He may be able to get more time or even primary custody if he can prove she either isn't capable of parenting them (and twins with RA is probably very tough to manage) or if he can prove she was intentionally keeping them from him.\n\nCourts in most states no longer favor the mother automatically and really frown on parents that try to deny the other one access.  That's why I am suggesting going out at the beginning seeking to share the children, rather than take them outright.  Besides, kids really need both parents and the goal should be what is in the best interest of the kids.\n\nThe goal should not be to get even with her, but to truly set up a fair situation for the children.\n\nUnless she is agreeable to a shared situation, request mediation if the judge doesn't require it (some courts do this automatically).  The point of mediation is to work out a custody and visitation agreement.\n\nIn mediation always stay calm and in control of your emotions.  Constantly focus on what is in the best interest of the kids and not "what she did."   That will impress the mediator and if the mother loses it, will REALLY work in your favor.\n\nThe more time he has, the lower his support bill.\n\nBe careful though, custody battles can be very expensive.
1025895
I have joint custody of my son also.  My Ex is primary and I'm secondary.  In the settlement, I get my son every weekend.  I should have also put in there that I get him during my vacations.  This would have made it so that he spend over 105 nights a year with me.  If I had done that, then child support would have been cut and I would also get to claim him in my taxes.  The funny thing is that my son does go with me on vacations but it isn't in the papers so I'd have to refile the child support and who knows what would happen then.  So I figure it's better just to leave it alone.
163706
you will need a lawyer and a judge's order for joint custody. If the mother is against joint custody she will get her own lawyer and fight the issue, be prepared for every bad thing you've ever done to be brought up in court.
315198
I have shared custody with my exhusband with our sons.  I can tell you right now that as long as he pays child support and its in their court papers she will have to let him visit with his kids.  She cannot deny his rights no matter how much she wants to.  There is a thing he needs to know about called father's rights.  There is an organization for the rights of fathers.  With my situation my exhusband shares custody and we have always talked about it with our kids because they are involved with this too.  There is something he can do too because i could not keep my exhusband from seeing his sons.  Of course now he chooses not to see his sons because of his retarded alcoholic girlfriend.  Sometimes if you step back and let things happen the way they do it works out better than what you think.  The more he argues with her the worse off she will become.  My advice do like i did let the courts handle it dont fight the decision and let things take its course.  Also keep in mind that since he is still married and he is living with you that can count against him.  I hate to say that but its true.  She can hold that against him in court.  I know about all of this my exhusband was not allowed to live with his girlfriend until after our divorce.  In the divorce is where all things should be stipulated and rules set forth.  If he pays childsupport she will have to let him visit with his sons no matter what.  Don't let it stress you to the point it gets out of hand she is using the kids as stomping ground for him.  She is mad because he has decided to move on without her see what i mean?  After awhile things will work itself out.  I promise on that one.
1134864
Some tips that have work for me:\n\nAgree on joint custody of the kids. That way, you both can decide over the children'f future together and both of you can be involved making importatnt decisions in your kids lives.\n\nBe generous on visitation. That way the kids can have a fair share of both parents.\n\nHave an agreement with your soon-to -be ex about NOT badmouthing the other when not present, That hurts the kids. Make that solemn promise that you will not talk bad about the other one during visitation.\n\nHave a conversation with the kids, Explain what is about to happen and how much you love them and how daddy an mommy still care about each other. \n\nWhen visitation comes, try to make the transition an easy as posssible. This NO time for arguments or sour faces.\n\nRemain in friendly terms.\n\nAlways allow your ex to talk on the phone with the kids. ALWAYS.\n\nSend father day/birthday cards sign by the kids.\n\n\nCIVIL is never using the kids to get back at one another. Good for you that you are willling to do this.
1130705
What state do you reside?...Do you have parenting plans?..The courts agree to anything that benefits the children...however in the state of NJ...It is illegal during the other parents time.  Since camp benefits the child the step-mother/bio-dad needed to get WRITTEN permission from you....Your visitation should be followed to the T.....If the bio-dad  takes a week that was yours, then you should have the right to receive another....You see...This is VERY COMMON & should have been discussed prior to causing this situation NOW....Trust me there will be others....DO NOT let her make you MAD ....You will only make this situation worse...There will be more situattions that will come about during your childs teenage years & you can set the tone of how you handle this situations NOW....Be the bigger person....Go to the Family Court in your town & check out your rights...you do NOT need a lawyer....Think about it...Your child will benefit from CAMP....I'm sorry that this is happening to you!
861602
Not unless he adopted your son & that would require your permission. Check with your attorney or Social Security Office, take copy of divorce papers to prove you have joint custody.\nShe hasd no legal right to block your contact from his # & broke the law if collecting double payments.
991918
If you have the children the same amount of time, then I think you are fine. I would question why you even pay the $200. Child support is for food, rent, living expenses. You pay the same by splitting the duties. It should come out even. But, I'm not divorced so I don't know the rules of custody.  It sounds like the people who have answered this already are not realizing the "joint-custody" issue, or don't understand what it means.\n\nCOOL, by the time I got this posted some others have said the same!!
973271
Just write your own agreement, stating the arrangements you have agreed upon.  Each sign a copy and have a witness for each of you sign as well.  Then if you ever have to go to court, you at least have something written down on what was agreed upon.  My brother and his ex went to court and then came up with their own agreement.  They just cancelled the court date and now share custody of their daughter.
189035
Call a lawyer. They can write up a power of attorney agreement for fairly cheap. Then, all the parties sign and you get it notarized. You can specify how long or how short you want the custody for in the agreement.\n\nGood luck!
677647
Normally parents can have joint custody and one parent be the primary caregiver.  This person can be awarded child support.  If the parents are splitting the care of the child with so many days between parents then you probably won't.  Normally you can check with your attorney or sometimes the state you reside in has an agency which helps to collect child support and can best advise you.  Normally parents have to resort to this when they can't mutually decide how to divide financial responsibilities for the child.
836970
Not the proper way of handling the situation , try divorce first as you may be open to a federal charge for taking the kid across state lines . The father has rights also in spite of your differences.
914885
You really need to talk to your lawyer.  He will be able to interpret the divorce decree better than anyone on this site including you.  Although it does sound like she is trying to get more money from you it does seem like you have been made to cover the cost of the insurance for the children.  My guess is that the agreement doesn't specify if it is secondary or primary.  That might mean that you will have to re-imburse her for the money that she spends on the insurance.\n\nIn any event, I am certain that you would gladly pay this money if it meant that if she just dropped the insurance so that it did not exist you would have to cover what was not covered by the primary insurance.  That amount might be a lot more.