Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

By Jennifer M. Paine

Divorce Lawyer, Cordell & Cordell

Substance use and substance abuse are two different things, particularly in divorce cases.

Of course, no illegal use is a good use, but there is quite a difference between a single use in a moment of bad judgment and a chronic daily use.

The former is likely to result in a reprimand from your judge and an order for counseling and/or parenting classes, and the latter could lead to loss of child custody or parental rights.

But don't rush to conclusions.

Question:

My ex-wife currently petitioned the court to not have my children exposed to my fiancée during my parenting time because of her previous drug history with marijuana.

The children were never exposed to the drugs and we both have consented to random drug tests.

Is there a way to fight this so my fiancée can be around my kids?

Question: 

I'm divorced and my ex will not answer the phone at all when I call to see our two boys.  We have joint custody of our boys but she will not bring them by the house for my time with them on the days she's required to. I live with my parents and they smoke weed. Her lawyer and my lawyer knew about this fact, but we managed to settle an agreement without taking it to the judge. But she doesn't come through on her part.

She has an obligation to give me time with our two boys, just like I have to pay child support. I think she's holding the "my parents smoke weed in that house" issue as a reason to not have to do anything like bring them over, call me back, or communicate with me at all. Does she have that right?

Question: My ex wife has primary physical custody of our three children all under 8 years old. We share legal custody. 

She has a history of drug use and I have reason to believe that she, along with her live-in boyfriend, is using marijuana again. 

Can I have her drug tested? How do I get the court involved in this?

 Question:

I have been divorced for thirteen years. We have a seventeen year old daughter and a fourteen year old son. Both of our children have had a considerable drop in their school grades through the past four years. In fact, my daughter has recently been caught by police with alchohol, cigarettes, and pot!

Mom does not want to deal with it. I want to have a gaurdian ad litem involved . How can I do this?

I am also concerned of the new stepfather's police history. Mom implies that he has a history of sexual misconduct, but that he is better now. Any advice as to how I can get this information and what I should do to deal with this problem once I have it?