Child custody

[nocturnalanjel]

Hi,
My husband has a 6 year old son that has been living with us since his divorce in 2003. When my husband and his ex wife split up they agreed that they would share equal custody of their son. They never went through the courts. Since that time he has been living with us. The mother never comes to see her son. She comes once a week at the most. She does not call to say she is not coming, she just never shows up to pick him up. Since the divorce she has been with several different men, moving from house to house every couple of months. She finally settled down with one man a couple of months ago and got married. They are living about 15 miles from us. She says that it is "a waste of gas" to drive the 15 miles to pick up her son, even though she drives through our town on her way to and from work. When she does pick up her son she never makes him do his homework, which is really becoming a big problem with the school. The school was made aware of what days the mother has him and they acknowledged the fact that homework only gets done when he is with us. They even agreed to testify to that in court. The mother has another 4 year old son, with another man, that will be starting school next year. She's now saying that she is going to switch my step son to the school closer to her because she wants both of her boys in the same school district. He is very upset and does not want to change schools. Does anyone know of any good lawyers in Pennsylvania that can help my husband get physical custody of his son? He is not trying to take him away from his mother, but he just wants to have a legal document stating that he is the custodial parent and that his son resides with us, so that she can't try anything in the future. If anyone has any advice please let me know. My husband is a wonderful man and father. His children mean the world to him and I just want what is best for everyone.
Thank you!!

[scorpio99]

Originally Posted by nocturnalanjel

Hi,
My husband has a 6 year old son that has been living with us since his divorce in 2003. When my husband and his ex wife split up they agreed that they would share equal custody of their son. They never went through the courts. Since that time he has been living with us. The mother never comes to see her son. She comes once a week at the most. She does not call to say she is not coming, she just never shows up to pick him up. Since the divorce she has been with several different men, moving from house to house every couple of months. She finally settled down with one man a couple of months ago and got married. They are living about 15 miles from us. She says that it is "a waste of gas" to drive the 15 miles to pick up her son, even though she drives through our town on her way to and from work. When she does pick up her son she never makes him do his homework, which is really becoming a big problem with the school. The school was made aware of what days the mother has him and they acknowledged the fact that homework only gets done when he is with us. They even agreed to testify to that in court. The mother has another 4 year old son, with another man, that will be starting school next year. She's now saying that she is going to switch my step son to the school closer to her because she wants both of her boys in the same school district. He is very upset and does not want to change schools. Does anyone know of any good lawyers in Pennsylvania that can help my husband get physical custody of his son? He is not trying to take him away from his mother, but he just wants to have a legal document stating that he is the custodial parent and that his son resides with us, so that she can't try anything in the future. If anyone has any advice please let me know. My husband is a wonderful man and father. His children mean the world to him and I just want what is best for everyone.
Thank you!!

Sorry to hear that. I know how you feel, My husband is in a similar boat. I do not know any Penn attorneys just Kansas ones. My best advice that has helped us is to keep a daily diary of every phone call or situation you have. Check your law to see if the child can choose. Good luck to you.