How Can I Get Custody of My Children

[jthm]

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: fl
I am the non custodial parent of my 2 children (6 and 5 years old). I am not positive that custody has been determined, however I am paying child support. Recently the children have been expressing interest of staying with me more often than every weekend. I want to have custody of them due to the unsanitary and unhealthy environment of their mother's home. There are holes in the floors, walls and doors. All of the windows are broken. There are roaches and rats. Exposed electrical outlets. My daughter had lice from May to December of last year and now they both have it again. My daughter had a major outer ear infection just 2 weeks ago. We finally took her to a specialist that suggested that we remove her tonsils and adenoids. Both children struggle in school and a major part of the reasoning why is because their mother has issues speaking properly. Her current boyfriend actually had a court ordered restaining order for my son because he got physically violent with him. DCF was called on their mother 4 times in 3 months but they do not seem to care. We are now spending every other week (for the full week) with them. I need to know what I have to do in order to get custody of children before something terrible happens to them. Please help us!

[Dogmatique]

Have you contacted social services to have them look in on Mom's living conditions?

[jthm]

yes. We call it DCF here. they don't care. we have evidence, pictures of them being neglected etc

[Dogmatique]

yes. We call it DCF here. they don't care. we have evidence, pictures of them being neglected etc

Then if they haven't seen fit to remove the children, it will be nigh on impossible to convince the court that the children are in danger of being abused or neglected.

How long as the week on/off situation being going on?

[jthm]

in the last 34 days we have had the kids for 29 days. we are going to keep this up in the following weeks

[Dogmatique]

You need a whole lot longer than a few weeks in order to switch custody based on a new status quo.

Try 6 months.

[jthm]

thats what we were figuring.

[CourtClerk]

who is we?

[Dogmatique]

who is we?

Too easy

[jthm]

i never said i wanted them all to myself. I just want them to live in an environment that allows them to be healthy and not be afraid of going to the bathroom because there is a gigantic hole in the floor in front of the toilet. I WANT them to love their mother. I WANT them to spend time with their mother. I just want them to live with ME and my WIFE in a SAFE environment.

- - - Updated - - -

not to mention if you want to get technical, I never wanted children at the time. I was tricked into it. twice. Their mother told me she was on birth control the first time. The 2nd time she would hide the pills, as i watched her take them, under her tongue then spit them in the toilet or down the drain in the sink.