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Rubyzz
18-10-2008, 11:50
Hi everyone,

Was wondering how each of you have worked out your arrangements for care/vistitation etc with the FOB, and such things as did you have to go to court or did you work it out between you.
I have a six month old daughter, our relatioship broke down when I was pregnant and I moved 2.5hrs away to my family for support for remainder of pregnancy up until now. FOB did ctake time off work and come up to area to help with the new baby for four months which Im very thankful for as she was a very unsettled reflux baby. She is all good now and FOB has returned to city to start work again and is not taking us with him. Now he all of a sudden is dropping bombshells and saying I better co-operate with what he wants in visitation or he can take me to court and they can make me move back to where our relationship was, which would suit him better?? Hell, is this correct? I said to him I doubt it, its not like we were married or living together, had a baby and I up and moved, that I could understand. He is also saying things like he wont be able to get up here much while he works and has other children he shares custody off from a previous divorce so instead he should be able to take her for holidays. Hmmm Im having trouble with all this talk, mainly because of her age, I want her to have a good relationship with her father but I dont want to screw her up either. I dont think he should not see her much and then all of a sudden whisk her away for long periods, the thought she doesnt understand what is happening and Im gone all of a sudden is too much, surely there are some age appropriate solutions for younger children babies until they can handle more and feel secure in the arrangements. Id like a developmental plan that we adjust as she gets older and we can try things and then go forward or step back depending on the childs response. Im so stressed over what might happen if we cant agree on something, we will end up in court and there will be no flexibilty.
Anyway let me know what you all have done, does anyone live a far distance from father and have a baby or small child and how are you working it out?

RmumR
18-10-2008, 13:38
I live approx 2.5hrs from my X (DD's dad) we separated at the start of this year and i moved away to be closer to my parents. We are still in the process of formalising our custody/access agreement.
He drives up to us and takes DD out for the day once a week from 8am till 4pm, its meant to be every sunday but sometimes if he has other things on we swap for another day that suits us both. This will continue till DD is 5 and then she will start to stay with him every 2nd weekend for the whole weekend and half the school holidays.
Oh and he also has her on public holidays.

Hope that helps a bit.

flick82
18-10-2008, 17:45
I guess im lukcy in a way DD1's father wants nothing to do with her so i dont have to deal with his. But DF has been thru the whole court thing. Not sure about making you move back but i do know that there have been changes to the law and you would either have to drop your DD off or pick her up, it wouldnt just be up to him to do all the driving, so it makes it fairer to both parents. My DF lived 1 1/2hrs away from his ex and they had to do this and he was the one that moved away. My DF has had 50/50 care of his DD since it went to court and she was only 12mth at the time court had finished. The only reason it went to court is because they couldnt agree (but i do think her terms were a bit unreasonable) and medition failed. I really hope you guys can work something out.

trucelizzie
18-10-2008, 21:03
My daughter never see's her dad, he up and left 2 years ago..
But, There is no law or court order that will make you have to move to where your relationship was. Nor will a judge take that request seriously from x. He can apply for an order that says you cannot leave the state with baby without his consent. regarding visitations etc.. they will try and get you to organise it through mediation first. Court is kind of the last resort regarding this stuff. It will also be unlikely that he will have unreasonalbe visitations, a week here, overnigt etc, if he isnt around alot, he might aswell be a stranger taking you child for the night, IYKWIM. Hope this helps a bit, dont worry, babies best interest are taking first into consideration.

Lil Mamma
19-10-2008, 22:22
I highly doubt you would have to move back there, but you would probably need to share transport arrangements.

You are best off contacting legal aid, you can then discuss with a lawyer what your legal options are. FOB and I developed an enforceable parenting plan through Family Relationships Australia, with my lawyer negotiating with him on my behalf. It's all paid for by legal aid and I have found this good, its much better if you can work something out with FRA than going through court processes.

justme77
19-10-2008, 22:53
i have custody of all my kids so im no real help

although my mate moved 4 hours with her son, and because of this she is responsible for the cost of getting her son back here to visit her dad. so my understanding is that if you are the one to leave where the relationship was, you are responsible for the costs.

like she said above- give legal aid a call and find out for sure