Question:

My ex-wife is constantly interfering with my Indiana minimum visitation time, she broke the "first right of refusal" by hiring a babysitter for the kids about 12 times last month. My lawyer told me that we cannot do anything and that there are worse cases than mine.  Further, my lawyer stated that she cannot contact the judge because he is too busy. Is this something that I have to just "suck up" and take as my lawyer says, or should I get another counselor?

Answer:

Whether your current attorney is correct or not, your custodial rights are too important to accept an adverse situation without a second opinion from an attorney experienced in custody cases, such as the attorneys at Cordell & Cordell.   Rights of first refusal can be poorly drafted or not vigorously enforced by local courts.  A qualified attorney can assess the issues as to enforcement of your right of first refusal and perhaps other visitation enforcement or enhancement strategies.

Richard Coffee is a Litigation Manager in the Belleville Illinois office of Cordell & Cordell. He is an experienced divorce attorney whose practice is devoted to domestic litigation. He is licensed in the State of Illinois and is admitted to practice law in the U.S. District Courts for Northern, Central and Southern Illinois.

Mr. Coffee has extensive domestic litigation trial experience representing clients in courts throughout Illinois on all aspects of domestic litigation, including the representation of clients who are current or retired military personnel with issues under the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act and the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act, clients involved in state court jurisdictional disputes due to the relocation of one or both parties from or to Illinois, and clients with government or private pension benefit valuation and division issues.