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Visitation Between States Without Court Involvement

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  • 06-04-2008, 10:22 AM
    brandee12345
    Visitation Between States Without Court Involvement
    My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Ohio (where we live)...dad's in Arkansas.

    My 7 y/o daughter and I have lived alone in Ohio (where she was born and my family lives) for the last 2 years. Child support took almost a year to come through but otherwise there has been no court involvement. When her dad wants us he just calls and although it was at first difficult... he didn't want to pay child support, was unreachable, etc., now he's settled, married and working.

    In January this year he finally made it to visit his daughter. Now he wants her for 3 to 4 weeks this month. I have no problem with that, but I am worried that b/c we have no formal custody arrangement he could try to keep her.

    Is it possible for him to keep her after I let him come to take her to AR for 3 weeks?

    Am I putting myself at risk by NOT having the OH court arrange visitation?

    I really need to know if I should put off his taking her with him to his home state of AR until after I see an lawyer and how much of my circumstance is controllable. I know that I don't have to let her go at present, but am I at risk of losing her if I do allow it?

    Please help... any advise would be greatly appreciated. It is short notice and I'm over my head with the research. Thanks!
  • 06-04-2008, 12:36 PM
    cyjeff
    Re: Visitation Between States Without Court Involvement
    Get an attorney - today - and work out visitation and child support.

    You will do this before your child goes to live with a virtual stranger for several weeks.
  • 06-04-2008, 01:02 PM
    ranger068
    Re: Visitation Between States Without Court Involvement
    GET A LAWYER,- Do not allow visitation to be taken without a court order. Volunteer for him to come up and see her in your stated location with supervision to look like you aren't keeping him from his child, but explain to him that you would like to have a court order visitation schedule appointed for the extended visitation that he has requested and state that you have no problem with it. You would just like everything to be set in stone by the court system. Talk to your lawyer about it. I agree with the last poster. Do not allow the visit and get a lawyer asap...I know it is expensive, but you have to do what you have to do to protect yourself and your child!
  • 06-04-2008, 01:10 PM
    brandee12345
    Re: Visitation Between States Without Court Involvement
    If I could afford an attorney, believe me... I'd ask her first, but as it stands I'd like to assess the risks involved, b/c so far I haven't found any legal reason not to let her go, only that legally I don't have to... I don't want to overlook any important information. He's her father, she'll be safe, and he's by no means a stranger. (Did I mention he's a police officer... ) We lived together unmarried for 6 years. We spent the first 2 years in OH where our daughter was born then moved to AR for 2 years. My daughter and I left AR and moved home to OH a little over 2 years ago. Until then there was no court involvement at all. Several months after returning home I established paternity and filed for support through my local child support enforcement agency.

    The father and I have discussed the issue of visitation and he assures me that we can work it all out w/o going to court, so is court ordered really necessary?

    Is there enough reason for my sometimes slightly paranoid thinking to cause me to insist on seeing it in writing?

    Thanks for any information.
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