Child Relocation?

[zurc1968]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?I live in the Bronx, NY. My wife and I want to relocate to Florida. I will be leaving sooner to establish everything. She has a 12 yr old Son from the ex that I have raised since 5 and we have a 3 year old son together. They are extremely close. My ex does not follow the visitation schedule nor does he see him like he should. He has been to about 6 of his sports events in 5 years. Thats baseball and football. We even give him the game schedule. one day we couldn't Our Son has asthma which his father refused to acknowledge to the point of hospitalization. The doctors had to tell him sternly what the deal was and he still says that the doctors want the insurance money. Our son cannot be around cigarette smoke at all but yet his Fathers girlfirend chain smokes and then uses our sons asthma pump to relieve her asthma. He has only come to the hospital once and it was when he was admitted but when I or my wife take him for hours and miss work the father says he can't make it because he must work. After all this we still encourage and foster a good relationship with his father. He loves his father as he should but his father has let him down at times and is not as responsive as parent should be. We have asked her son what he would like and he wants to go to florida. My sister in-law and her two kids moved there sometime ago and the kids are close. We also spoke about getting a web cam for us and his father. I do know that in NY they see if the move will be in the childs best interest (we live in the south bronx what more do they need LOL ) so How does this look? Any suggestions or advice? Also, my wife is going to represent herself and the ex probly will do the same, but around what would a lawyers fee be for this?

 

[stealth2]

She has a 12 yr old Son ..... My ex does not follow the visitation schedule ..... Our Son .... etc

So..... is it her son and ex? Or your son and ex? Or what?

 

[USMOM]

fees

Most attorneys charge an hourly fee for their time. The fees range from about $100/per hour to in some extreme cases $300 per hour when specific legal knowledge is necessary (ie international cases). As the fees are based on an hourly rate there are few things that you can do to reduce costs.
1. Have a complete description of the case and anything relevent written down. This includes even such details such as name and birth date of the child, medical history, ect. try to have this e-mailed to the attorney in advance. The more the attorney knows before your meeting the better. The he/she can be prepared to ask any further questions.
2. If you are so inclined, do a web search to find relevent cases and laws. Use Findlaw on the internet. Have this ready. My attorney let me do most of the research which she then verified for my case because she knew of my legal background. This saved me at least $1000 dollars.This is something that is quite rare and most attorneys don't offer the option.
3. Offer to mediate. Everything in your story suggests that you are willing to make the effort to work out something that will help and not harm the relationship between your child and his dad. That makes you a good candidate for mediation. This is a lot cheaper than an attorney. Beware with the idea of not having an attorney. I know of cases where the other party did not have an attorney in court but received legal information from an attorney before going to court. In the cases that I know of the person went to an attorney got the info and fired the attorney before the attorney was entered as the attorney of record. many attorneys insist on being entered as the attorney of record before they procede, but not all.
I hope this helps a bit.

 

[stealth2]

Also, my wife is going to represent herself and the ex probly will do the same, but around what would a lawyers fee be for this?

In NYC, you'll be looking at around $250-300/hour easy. I was paying $195/hr upstate, and pay $225/hr in Central NJ.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

In NYC, you'll be looking at around $250-300/hour easy. I was paying $195/hr upstate, and pay $225/hr in Central NJ.

DAMN!!! The last time I was in New York I only paid $50 for an hour.....OH WAIT!!! we're talking attorney fees right?

 

[stealth2]

DAMN!!! The last time I was in New York I only paid $50 for an hour.....OH WAIT!!! we're talking attorney fees right?

 

[USMOM]

I am so glad I divorce here instead of NY. My ex is paying only $300 for an attorney that speciallizes in International Domestic relations and appeals. He is the most expensive in this state. Not that it has done wonders for my ex.