DadsDivorce.com provides essential information and resources about divorce, alimony, child support and child custody to men and fathers at any stage of divorce.

by Jill Best of Cordell & Cordell, P.C.

Preparing for your first court appearance can be time consuming and stressful.  By the time your hearing date approaches, you have probably had at least one meeting with your attorney to discuss the order of the day, review your anticipated testimony and familiarize yourself with exhibits.  Up to this point, you may have tossed and turned at night over the unknowns of your case: What questions will I be asked on cross examination?  What if I win?  What if I lose?  If you are like most of my clients, the last thing on your mind is: What will I wear?   

Cordell & Cordell, P.C. attorney, Jill Best, speaks out about a man forced to pay child-support for a child who is not biologically his. In a two-part segment titled Dad By Default, the attorney whose firm sponsors DadsDivorce.com weighs in on the state of family law in Kansas and Missouri that can require a man to take responsibility for a child that is not his.

Read Ms. Best's articles here.

 Question:

I am in the middle of a custody battle with my ex-wife. We divorced nearly 6 years ago. This past April my daughter who is nearly 6 was sexually abused my her older half brother, my ex-wife's oldest child. CPS got involved in the case and I took my ex-wife back to court for custody of our two children (6 and 10).

During all of this I found out that there was a CPS case last year on my kids being abused at the hands of their mom and grandma. I did not know about this even though CPS is claiming that they spoke to me. I have always been worried about my kids. My lawyer said that the CPS case last year is not proof that the kids are in danger so he is not going to bring it up in court when we go back for the final court hearing in August.

My attorney told me that with my being an Over the Road truck driver that the court will not give custody of the children to me. I am looking for a job off the road, but if I change jobs now it will affect my ability to pay child support and the insurance.  This would put me in contempt when we go back to court. My new wife and I will be having a home study done on ourselves and the kids this July. Do you think the CPS papers should be brought up? I would really like to change lawyers but I have already payed this lawyer $3,500. He seems to think my chances are nil. What do you think?  Am I missing some options?

 Question:

How can I get custody of my son? He is one year and seven months old. He is currently living part-time with his incompetent mother who works as a full-time stripper. I pay her 90% of the child care costs, and she is currently living in the projects.  She doe not pay rent, nor any food costs or medical costs. All of her work is done completely under the table and as a result none of her income is being reported to the child support office.  Therefore, she is living free of all costs at the taxpayer's expense.

I have my son the majority of the time although my ex does not report this to the state.  Therefore, they pay her for full custody and I continue to pay $428 a month while working full-time to maintain those child support payments.

I would like a lawyer that can get me legal custody of my son so I can provide the safety and things he needs to lead a productive life. All I want is to be able to take care of him and know that he is safe. And in my custody he is. In hers, I greatly fear for his safety.