Among the Ask a Divorce Lawyer questions answered today by Cordell & Cordell attorneys:

• My wife won't tell me where our daughter goes to daycare. Can the court force her to tell me?
• Does our verbal agreement to modify child support have any standing in court?
• Can I force my child to come back to my state and live with me?
• How should I deal with with a Hague Convention case?
• Shouldn’t I have equal rights to see my daughter during the divorce process? Can       her parents stop me?
• My support orders say I have to pay until my child is 18, but will I be required to pay any of his college expenses?
• What is a typical arrangement for summer visitations when the parents live in different states?

Question: My ex-wife wants to take our three children to live in Mexico. They were all born in the U.S. I do not want them to go. 

What are my legal rights in this? 

The divorce decree does not specify anything about an international move. I’m not sure if this makes a difference, but she does have family in Mexico, including her new husband.

By Jennifer M. Paine

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell, P.C., Detroit office

Note: This is Part 4 of a four-part overview of the Goldman international custody battle, the Hague Convention treaty and some practical lessons for your case. Click here to read Part 1, click here to read Part 2, and click here to read Part 3.

What Should You Do If You Suspect International Child Abduction?

By Jennifer M. Paine

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell, P.C., Detroit office

Note: This is Part 3 of a four-part overview of the Goldman international custody battle, the Hague Convention treaty and some practical lessons for your case. Click here to read Part 1, click here to read Part 2 and click here to read Part 4.

What Does David Goldman’s Case Mean To You? Focus On Procedure

It is easy in a fight for children to get distracted, dragged-down in a mudslinging battle of who’s-better, especially when your former loved ones now call you unfit, abusive, alcoholic, a no-good-something-or-other, a monster who does not deserve his children. They all wage their David Goldman battles, overseas or not. At least, that’s how it feels. It will take considerable restraint and willpower to turn the other cheek, but turn the other cheek you must, lest you remind your judge of an episode of Judge Joe Brown and lose focus on the first, most important issue in your case: procedural posture.

By Jennifer M. Paine

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell, P.C., Detroit office

Note: This is Part 2 of a four-part overview of the Goldman international custody battle, the Hague Convention treaty and some practical lessons for your case. Click here to read Part 1, click here to read Part 3 and click here to read Part 4.

What Is The Hague Convention?

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (“the Hague Convention”) is a treaty between countries that agree to cooperate and abide one set of laws, the Hague Convention, for the return of children removed from their home country for custody disputes. There are over 60 signatory countries. Notable among them are Australia, Brazil, China (parts), Germany, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey.