missing my stepdaughter

[bklylv]

i live in florida and have a stepdaughter. my husband never had a relationship with the mother, but has been paying child support regularly since he found out she was his via genetic testing. her mother refuses to let her come visit with us, although we have a court order. we haven't seen her since december 30. we send the little girl "care packages" and cards in hopes that she won't forget us. her mother called the children and family services on my husband accusing him of physical abuse on the little girl, supposedly this happened in january, when we weren't even seeing the girl. it was proven unfounded. do we have any legal grounds to sue for defamation of character, or for any emotional suffering she has caused by the games she plays with not letting us see the child? the mother is desperate, and is proving that she will go to any length to keep the little girl to herself.

 

[LegalBeagle]

i live in florida and have a stepdaughter. my husband never had a relationship with the mother, but has been paying child support regularly since he found out she was his via genetic testing. her mother refuses to let her come visit with us, although we have a court order. we haven't seen her since december 30. we send the little girl "care packages" and cards in hopes that she won't forget us. her mother called the children and family services on my husband accusing him of physical abuse on the little girl, supposedly this happened in january, when we weren't even seeing the girl. it was proven unfounded. do we have any legal grounds to sue for defamation of character, or for any emotional suffering she has caused by the games she plays with not letting us see the child? the mother is desperate, and is proving that she will go to any length to keep the little girl to herself.

Your approach is to take her to court for denied visitation. I assume seeing the child is more important than what she thinks of your character. You should retain a Family Law Attorney in the county the child is in and file contempt charges for denied visitation. The longer you leave it, the hard it is going to be to get back in the childs life.

 

[bklylv]

Thanks for the advice. We have already filed contempt papers and go to court (general master) on May 7. We are angry, though, that a person can make such accusations and get away with it.