What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? IL
My son is seeing an attorney next week and intends to go for sole custody of his 1 yr old daughter. Since I'm helping with the retainer fee I wonder if it's worth the fight - the bill could get costly & he may end up paying a lot for basic visitation.
He & his girlfriend, who I'll call Sue, never married and haven't been together for 6-9 months. Paternity, child-support or visition has not been established, but he does givemoney to help provide. Because Sue has used the only free/reduced legal support system in our county she will be represented for free. My son will have to pay on his own - though he too is eligable for the service they consider it a conflict of interest & won't represent him.
He's concerned, as am I, because Sue is a bi-polar alcholic. She's been arrested for domestic abuse against my son, drunken disorderly charges & harrassment by phone. She's made several suicidal gestures that resulted in others calling the police - mostly it was comments mades while in a distraught state, but there was one incident where she was takento the phsyc ward since she od'd on her bi-polar meds. Two years ago she was court ordered to get alcohol treatment - she complied because if she didn't she was going to jail, but she continued drinking as always so the treatment failed.
She likes to party and comes home at 3-4am even though she has to care for her child in the morning. Often she leaves the baby at her parents so she can party and we have concerns there too.....her father is also an alcholic who been arrested for domestic violence multiple times. We both worry about the baby spending the night there because of this.
We have about 30 police reports from 3 different towns - all for domestic disturbances for the past 5 years. 90% of them detail irrational arguments that occur between her & her parents - most of which turn violent - once her dad pushed her down & had a knife in his hand. 90% also details how the police observed her & her father to clearly have been drinking.
The police called DCFS on her last summer because she pushed & shoved my son in front of their daughter. They interviewed her and told her if they hear of any more police reports she may loose custody of her child - since then there have been many police encounters but still nothing happens.
Obviously my son's basis on wanting custody is because of the unstable issues described above and because Sue does not work and relies on the government to financially support her - she gets free rent, free food, free utilities & free medical. My son is ready, willing and able to support his child so that no government aid is required.
Should he go for sole custody? Do judges still lean towards the mom no matter what?
ThanksWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
My son is seeing an attorney next week and intends to go for sole custody of his 1 yr old daughter. Since I'm helping with the retainer fee I wonder if it's worth the fight - the bill could get costly & he may end up paying a lot for basic visitation.
He & his girlfriend, who I'll call Sue, never married and haven't been together for 6-9 months. Paternity, child-support or visition has not been established, but he does givemoney to help provide. Because Sue has used the only free/reduced legal support system in our county she will be represented for free. My son will have to pay on his own - though he too is eligable for the service they consider it a conflict of interest & won't represent him.
He's concerned, as am I, because Sue is a bi-polar alcholic. She's been arrested for domestic abuse against my son, drunken disorderly charges & harrassment by phone. She's made several suicidal gestures that resulted in others calling the police - mostly it was comments mades while in a distraught state, but there was one incident where she was takento the phsyc ward since she od'd on her bi-polar meds. Two years ago she was court ordered to get alcohol treatment - she complied because if she didn't she was going to jail, but she continued drinking as always so the treatment failed.
She likes to party and comes home at 3-4am even though she has to care for her child in the morning. Often she leaves the baby at her parents so she can party and we have concerns there too.....her father is also an alcholic who been arrested for domestic violence multiple times. We both worry about the baby spending the night there because of this.
We have about 30 police reports from 3 different towns - all for domestic disturbances for the past 5 years. 90% of them detail irrational arguments that occur between her & her parents - most of which turn violent - once her dad pushed her down & had a knife in his hand. 90% also details how the police observed her & her father to clearly have been drinking.
The police called DCFS on her last summer because she pushed & shoved my son in front of their daughter. They interviewed her and told her if they hear of any more police reports she may loose custody of her child - since then there have been many police encounters but still nothing happens.
Obviously my son's basis on wanting custody is because of the unstable issues described above and because Sue does not work and relies on the government to financially support her - she gets free rent, free food, free utilities & free medical. My son is ready, willing and able to support his child so that no government aid is required.
Should he go for sole custody? Do judges still lean towards the mom no matter what?
ThanksWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?