What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA
I have temporary sole custody of my 10 year old son. In May 09 my son was abused by his father during a weekend visit. Father was (a year later...) charged and took a plea bargain, he rec'd 5 years probation for simple assault and endangering the welfare of a minor under 12. Father also had to get a psychological evaluation, attend parenting classes and anger management. During the waiting period between me filing for sole custody and the criminal case father had supervised visits biweekly at the court nursery. When criminal case was over the supervised visits ceased pending father attending classes and getting evaluated. My son has not seen his father since Aug 09.
The last court date I had neither father nor his atty showed up for scheduled hearing time, eventually my atty got a hold of father's atty and she showed up 6 hours later (father did not show)... father's atty said that father had attended some anger management and some parenting classes but had not been evaluated. Judge ordered that father bring proof of classes and that a psych evaluator testify via phone conference that father was fit to have visits again.
My next hearing is at the end of this month. I just rec'd a phone call from my atty stating that the PA custody laws either have already or are changing soon and that the Judge can give any visits she wants regardless of what classes he's taken, what he's been convicted of etc. My atty said he saw no point of him being there because of the new laws.
I don't quite understand the law that is changing? Could someone shed some light on this please? If father hasn't accomplished all of the requirements from the criminal case, he can still get visits now?
My son is suffering severely from post traumatic stress disorder from this whole ordeal, his DR advised against visits.
Is there ANYTHING I can do to prevent my son from having to go to these visits again?
I have temporary sole custody of my 10 year old son. In May 09 my son was abused by his father during a weekend visit. Father was (a year later...) charged and took a plea bargain, he rec'd 5 years probation for simple assault and endangering the welfare of a minor under 12. Father also had to get a psychological evaluation, attend parenting classes and anger management. During the waiting period between me filing for sole custody and the criminal case father had supervised visits biweekly at the court nursery. When criminal case was over the supervised visits ceased pending father attending classes and getting evaluated. My son has not seen his father since Aug 09.
The last court date I had neither father nor his atty showed up for scheduled hearing time, eventually my atty got a hold of father's atty and she showed up 6 hours later (father did not show)... father's atty said that father had attended some anger management and some parenting classes but had not been evaluated. Judge ordered that father bring proof of classes and that a psych evaluator testify via phone conference that father was fit to have visits again.
My next hearing is at the end of this month. I just rec'd a phone call from my atty stating that the PA custody laws either have already or are changing soon and that the Judge can give any visits she wants regardless of what classes he's taken, what he's been convicted of etc. My atty said he saw no point of him being there because of the new laws.
I don't quite understand the law that is changing? Could someone shed some light on this please? If father hasn't accomplished all of the requirements from the criminal case, he can still get visits now?
My son is suffering severely from post traumatic stress disorder from this whole ordeal, his DR advised against visits.
Is there ANYTHING I can do to prevent my son from having to go to these visits again?
