Worried About the Custodial Parent's Allegations, DWI

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Missouri


Hi everyone, hoping to find some help/advice on my situation.


Long story short. I met CP, we got pregnant, baby was born, relationship went bad. I had no money and was asked to leave our residence. Moved in with family, did not get any kind of legal custody, just whenever she would let me see the child.

Fast forward 8 years, I am now married to a woman who had a child before our relationship. I see my other daughter on semi-regular basis, but the CP seems to be turning more and more unstable. I still do not have any kind of legal custody, but see her usually every other weekend. Within the last 6-9 months, CP has accused my other daughter of bullying and hitting, then there was an incident which lead CP to accuse me of threatening to kill her, and now I see that she has recently been charged with DWI (within the last 2 months).


Due to all the allegations she continually makes, as well as trying to provoke me into a physical altercation during exchanges, I am starting to seriously become worried about what the next allegation will be, and not sure what, if any, recourse I have or pre-emptive steps I could take to protect myself. I would like to get custody considering her drinking/drug problem, but outside of the DWI, I feel like the court will just take everything as he says she says, and I do not have the money for any kind of legal battle.

Thanks for reading, just trying to see if anyone can throw out an option that could possibly work for me. I love my kid and want to continue seeing her, but am a little worried about where my current situation is heading.


Thank you.

Okay - was kiddo present when Mom got the DWI?

First things first though - you absolutely NEED to get an enforceable visitation order put in place.

I am not sure if she was with her mother when she got the DWI. I have not seen her since hearing about it.

I honestly don't think you have anything close to being enough to actually change custody.

But again you do need that enforceable visitation order - with times, dates, who is responsible for pickup/dropoff, holidays (including when holiday periods actually start and finish - you'd be horrified at how often THAT comes up!) spelled out clearly.

Get on it, Dad :)

Oh - this assumes that paternity has been legally established. If it hasn't, that's your very first step. Are you paying child support?

Child support has been current since 2009, I lost job in 2009, got behind, but do have it current now. Paternity has been established as well.

Excellent! Then go get that visitation/parenting plan done :)

Thanks for the advice.