How can I get full custody of my daughter?

Question

I have 50% now and since her mom lives so far away I want full custody when she goes to kindergarden. I am buying a house so that she has her own room and in a nice neighbor hood. I am financially stable, unlike her mom. I am emotionally stable, unlike her mom. Most of my daughter family lives in my city.
Her mother is also crazy.

Answer 1

its like anything else

who ever does the paper work correctly usually wins

keep detailed records of all interactions... protect yourself at all times... volunteer and have a psyche eval done and ask the courts to request one of the mother

if you have joint custody.... did you sign something so the daughter could leave the area with the mother... did she leave the state without permission... this could be a violation of the courts orders...

pay for a good lawyer not a good neighborhood that will come later... be on the ball

unfortunately... the courts are like all the other posters and believe that a child needs its mother... i think this is completely sexist... like the child doesn't need their father on a regular basis ... only his money...

just remember that and try not to show it

people hate it when you point out their bigotry... so even though it is there rise above it... and do what is necessary to get what you want...

if you play the game better than she does you'll win... but again remember the deck is stacked against you so solicite GREAT help and as much as possible learn all you can about the custody laws and visitation where ever you are and she is... make sure that you keep good records of events time and date and summary... if you keep them in the same book it is a record that can be used in court...

good luck

Edit: To ohmyheaven below.... is it possible you could be anymore sexist... i not only cooked, cleaned, did the dishes, changed the diapers, done the laundry, shopped for groceries, run errands, and do the well baby checks, take 3 kids between the ages of 3 and 5 to a mall during the Christmass rush, play with the kids at home, and TAKE CARE of a wife restricted to bed due to complications in pregnancy, but I also worked... sorry you didn't know any men like that in your life princess but some Dad's are Dads

Answer 2

I hope you don't talk like that in front of your daughter. If you daughter is starting school soon then she needs to have a stable home. Why would you want to take her away from her mother though? She needs her mom whether you like her or not. She needs to be able to develop a relationship and you should do whatever you can to support it.

Since your daughter will be in school soon you need to petition the courts now for primary custody. her mom will probably fight it, but maybe you can work something out. If she were to stay with one parent during the school year and traveled to the other parent's home during the break would be ideal. You didn't say how your 50/50 custody?

Be careful though, the court may decide that you are the crazy one. the courts may take very little attention to finances. If they believe that she is more fit to raise her than you are you will get stuck with Child support and it isn't pretty.

Answer 3

"I am financially stable, unlike her mom. I am emotionally stable, unlike her mom. Her mother is also crazy."

Do not go to court and try to get sole custody using these statements. Anytime a parent attacks the other parent using these vague accusations it gives the judge a big red flag that may work against you.

Judges who give joint custody want the parents to peaceably work together. Judges will also be more likely to give sole custody to the parent who shows that they can be agreeable and work with the other parent. If you are conveying this attitude about your daughters mother that "she is crazy," to your child, you could lose what custody you have.

It is extremely difficult to get sole custody after joint has been established. *Material change of circumstance* has to occur, in other words things have to be drastically different from the time the decree was issued.

If your wife was financially unstable, emotionally unstable and crazy (your words) at the time you agreed upon joint custody, then nothing has changed. My advice is to stay out of court and save your money for your mortgage. You don't have much of a chance of changing the situation.

Answer 4

You have to be able to prove, in a court of law, that the mother is unfit to be a parent. Generally that's shown by either abuse or neglect. Financial stability doesn't play into it--and the emotionally instability would only affect a custody agreement if she's not physically being able to care for a child, because of her mental problems. Be careful about this--your daughter needs both you and her mother in her life, and you don't want to put her in a position where she feels she has to pick between mom and dad.

Answer 5

I do not want to sound mean, but it sounds as if you already have full custody of her even if you have not gone to court. Be glad he is sending something even if he lied about the amount. Some men do not send anything for their child/ren, and unless he is working at an awfully good paying job, $250-400 is about what you would receive anyway. Who is going to pay for suing him for custody, your parents? Sounds as if they are paying for everything as it is. Take what he sends you and be thankful. Go to court so you can get the amount he should be sending for the support of your daughter through the court so it will be legal. If you live at home your mom will not watch your baby so you can work? If not, then please at least attend night classes so further your education so you can take care of yourself and your daughter.

Answer 6

Unfortunately it's not likely unless you can PROVE that the mother cannot or will not provide adequate care. This means she is financially unable to provide food, shelter, clothing, etc. The food, shelter and clothing need only be adequate in the view of the court, not necessarily your standards. Other grounds for gaining custody could be substance abuse or physical abuse.

Your opinions about the mother's financial and emotional stability are your opinions. You would need to provide evidence of such to the court that the court finds acceptable.

Although more fathers are gaining sole custody, it is still quite uncommon in the case of young children.

Answer 7

the only way to get custody of your daughter is to go through the courts.
You will have to show evidence of your stability, and also show why your daughter will be better with you emotionally as well. Assets aren't everything.
Will you still let her mum have visitation? Even though she is crazy lol.
I hope you are doing this for your daughters benefit and not as a vendetta against her mum.
I hope it all works for you, good luck.

Answer 8

You would have to show proof that her mother is an unfit parent. So far here all you've shown is your ego. That's not going to get you full custody of your daughter. The court will determine based on what is best for the CHILD not who has the biggest ego.

Answer 9

The practical answer is: get a good lawyer.

But also you should consider your reason for going for full custody. And try to HONESTLY answer the question: is my daughter better off not knowing her mother? The answer could be yes, but be sure.

Answer 10

If u think u can provide to ur daughther fight for her full custody then, engage a lawyer tell him how ur situation and comparatively ask him fankly how is ur chances then go all the way for it.