What is the name of your state? NCP lives in Indiana, support order is in CA
Need some help in clarifing who has the right to determine custodian ship and the payee for support...
Background:
NCP has Joint legal custody of 15 year old daughter. Since he lives in Indiana and the daughter in CA, visitation has been sparse. Last year she became pregnant. She turned 15 in Sept 06 and had the baby in October 06. NCP flew daughter to Indiana for the duration of the pregnancy. No custody was ever transferred, but the CP gave written permission for daughter to stay. Birth costs were covered by NCP (and insurance provided by NCP). Shortly after the baby was born, daughter returned to CA so that the baby's father (who is 17) could be involved in the baby's life.
At some point daughter moved in with her boyfriend's and his parents. NCP was not made aware of this change until mid-January 07. He spoke with CP about the living arrangements and made her aware that he did not agree with the decision to allow her to move. Everytime NCP calls to talk to his daughter the phone goes unanswered. He has sent several letters to their assumed address. None of the letters have come back, but they have also been unanswered. No one in the boyfriend's family has ever acknowledged to NCP that daughter lives with them nor have they asked for any monetary contribution for her living expenses
At the end of Jan 07 Boyfriend's mother filed for additional welfare benefits to cover daughter and baby. Additional benefits were approved and daughter and baby were added to boyfriend's mother's "case" at the welfare office. In turn, NCP's child support was doubled to cover the costs of these benefits and are now payable to boyfriend's mother who is now named custodial guardian to daughter. NCP contacted local welfare office (Butte County...Chico, CA) and spoke with the case manager. NCP was told that he is no longer entitled to any information regarding daughter because boyfriend's mother was given custodial guardianship.
Questions:
Who determines custodial guardianship? Was NCP not entitled to advanced notification that there may be a change to custodial guardianship? Why is NCP not entitled to information regarding his daughter? Why is boyfriend's mother entitled to CS when she was never given permission by either parent to be a custodial guardian? Finally, what is NCP's best course of action to fix this situation?
Thanks in advance!
Need some help in clarifing who has the right to determine custodian ship and the payee for support...
Background:
NCP has Joint legal custody of 15 year old daughter. Since he lives in Indiana and the daughter in CA, visitation has been sparse. Last year she became pregnant. She turned 15 in Sept 06 and had the baby in October 06. NCP flew daughter to Indiana for the duration of the pregnancy. No custody was ever transferred, but the CP gave written permission for daughter to stay. Birth costs were covered by NCP (and insurance provided by NCP). Shortly after the baby was born, daughter returned to CA so that the baby's father (who is 17) could be involved in the baby's life.
At some point daughter moved in with her boyfriend's and his parents. NCP was not made aware of this change until mid-January 07. He spoke with CP about the living arrangements and made her aware that he did not agree with the decision to allow her to move. Everytime NCP calls to talk to his daughter the phone goes unanswered. He has sent several letters to their assumed address. None of the letters have come back, but they have also been unanswered. No one in the boyfriend's family has ever acknowledged to NCP that daughter lives with them nor have they asked for any monetary contribution for her living expenses
At the end of Jan 07 Boyfriend's mother filed for additional welfare benefits to cover daughter and baby. Additional benefits were approved and daughter and baby were added to boyfriend's mother's "case" at the welfare office. In turn, NCP's child support was doubled to cover the costs of these benefits and are now payable to boyfriend's mother who is now named custodial guardian to daughter. NCP contacted local welfare office (Butte County...Chico, CA) and spoke with the case manager. NCP was told that he is no longer entitled to any information regarding daughter because boyfriend's mother was given custodial guardianship.
Questions:
Who determines custodial guardianship? Was NCP not entitled to advanced notification that there may be a change to custodial guardianship? Why is NCP not entitled to information regarding his daughter? Why is boyfriend's mother entitled to CS when she was never given permission by either parent to be a custodial guardian? Finally, what is NCP's best course of action to fix this situation?
Thanks in advance!
