Noncustodial Parent Moved to Another State and Wants the the Teenager for the Summer

[candria]

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Massachusetts
I just received a Complaint for visitation delivered to me. My childs father moved to another state 3 years ago and now wants our 15 y.o. daughter to spend the summer with him. I do not agree with this order because she is now 15 y.o, she is an excellent student that is involved in alot of things. She wants to work, go to camp at Yale. She's in band and chorus so they will be playing in the summer. I don't feel that our life should have to get turned upside down because he moved to another state. He has a court order to pay child support and only pays when they are about to take further action. I think he might be going on disability for his asthma so he probably has more time on his hand. There is nothing constructive for her to do down there and it would do her more damage then good. She is at a point in her life where she has to start thinking about what she wants to do when she gets out of high school. she has to start preparing herself for this. she wants to go to Harvard University a University in Massachusetts. He doesn't really take this type of interest in her. He just doesn't get it. I'm afraid that he will deter her from being a surgeon. When she is with me she has ambition. He should have thought about this when she was 4,5,6,7, even. what rights do i have to stop my child from going to another state. I suggest he take his vacation in massachusetts and stay in a hotel and plan what he's going to do with her during that time. I will even do longer then two weeks as long as she does not leave massachusetts. I also noticed that he is acting like he hasn't been able to get in touch with me. he is acting like the only number he has is a number i have not had in 4 years. I can pull phone records to show he's lying. he has also been to the state i live in numerous times to see her. Since he feels he has to lie it makes me even more weary about her going down there. I'm trying to find out what my legal rights are. I would like to avoid hiring and attorney if i can.

[Dogmatique]

Are there any court orders for summer visitation?

Even if there aren't, if Dad files he likely WILL get the majority of summer. His rights as a parent by far trump your daughter's summer/extra curricular activities.

(And frankly if she has a genuine desire to be a surgeon, visiting Dad for a couple of months isn't going to change that. Unless her interest isn't perhaps as strong as you believe).