Father threatening out of state visit (OH to FL)

[JustJaime]

I have custody of my three yr old here in Ohio. when my ex and I divorced he also lived in Ohio and had every other weekend visits with our son. In may he moved to Florida. He did not inform child support or the courts. Now he is threatening to get visitation with our son in Florida or try to get custody. He is a bit of a liar and con-artist. I dont know if I should contact a lawyer or be afraid. Can he get our 3 yr old to come to Florida? How does this work? I really do not want our son to go to Florida, especially since he has threatened to kidnap him before.

[Mr. Knowitall]

He would have to litigate the issue in Ohio, which is where the prior custody order was issued and where the child is presently located. He can attempt to convince the Ohio court that he has an appropriate parenting time plan, including safe and appropriate transportation for the child, and see if the court will permit the out-of-state visit. (Realistically, for a three-year-old, the court would probably want an adult to travel with the child both ways - so he may actually be better off financially if he simply visits the child in Ohio.) Florida will uphold an Ohio custody order.