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Hi,
My name is Mark.
I am attempting to use this social-funding site because I have reached a point where my pride and dignity are not worth more than my children's wellbeing.
I have exhausted almost all my assets, and I am reaching my limits in credit
Legal fee's and increased living expenses ( since my daughter is now living with me ) have now left me few choices.
I have just been served a “Notice of Intent to relocate with Children” from my ex-wife's lawyer.
She has filed the paper work to officially relocate the children from Washington State, to Pennsylvania.
I oppose this decision, and so, must retain a lawyer ($5000) as I will also be pursing a change in Custody.
This will involve;
Required Mediation – est. $5000
Professional Parenting and children Evaluations – est. $7500-$10,000
Additional attorney Fees: est. $7500-$10,000
High estimate, I am trying to raise about $30k - but anything helps!
I have four children and my ex is currently the custodial parent of all four kids.
Since January of this year, my oldest daughter has been living with me -- after her mother kicked her out of the house. My ex stated that she thought my daughter needed to be institutionalized. That is her answer for anything she can’t resolve.
Prior to that, my oldest daughter had missed more than 30 days of school, and she had pretty much resigned herself to her bedroom – she presented all the signs of a kid experiencing some pretty severe depression.
Early one January morning 1:00am, my daughter called me after having been chased out of her house by her mother.
Her mother had accused my 16 year old daughter of having an affair with her mother’s boyfriend. This was not true. However, she was so convinced that this was true, that she took my daughters laptop computer and cell phone – she thought she would uncover secrets to prove this. Odd, that her boyfriend was not the focus of the concern, since what my ex was describing, would in fact be a crime AGAINST my daughter.
The 'ex' was intoxicated and she was verbally and physically abusive to my daughter, who then ran from the house for her safety. She called me to pick her up from a local police station ( that was closed, but had a phone outside )
I currently live about 30miles away from her mother’s home, but I came and picked her up immediately and she has been living with me since.
Since that night, my daughter has not missed one day of school, and she has been doing outstanding in her classes. We have also had many conversations about her future, and she is now extremely excited about opportunities that she will have out from under her mother’s oppression and verbal and emotional abuse.
I had hired an attorney in an attempt to change the parenting plan, for just my oldest daughter since she was now living with me. I sent a modest ‘change’ proposal to my ex, but she has no interest in any solution that changes the custodial ship of the kids -- even though one of the children lives with me.
These issues do not stop with my oldest daughter, there are similar stories regarding my ex's behavior, language, and physicality with each of the kids.
In light of the fact that my oldest daughter desires to live with me, and that my oldest son will soon be graduating from High School, it is my belief that my ex-wife has decided to move to Pennsylvania because she cannot afford her current lifestyle without the child support money.
She has also stated, that her 'support system' ( her parents and sisters ) are in Pennsylvania where the kids would receive all the attention they could desire.
More like, so she can dump the kids on her family and not be bothered with them.
For the last 9 years, I have been forced to 'react' to many situations where the children’s wellbeing, and in fact sometimes their health, were in danger.
I've sacrificed my own financial hardships, and expensive living situations so that I could live close to the kids, within walking distance for most of the last 9 years.
It's time for this craziness to stop, and allow me to raise and provide for my children.
I did have to finally move, the last time (Aug 2013) that my ex requested a modification to the child support payments.
When that happened I had to move, as I could not afford to live in my rental ( after 4 years living there ).
I was able to find a house, which I currently rent, that provided enough space for the kids to spend nights at my house, and something that I could afford. The only trouble is that I now live 30 miles away.
I drive my daugher to school every day now. 30 miles each way.
I drive to my office after I drop her off - another 30 miles from her school.
then back to pick her up, and then home.
I usually spend two additional hours each day, picking up one or more of my other kids, and then doing homework at the library or going to get food. ( also $$$ after months of doing this ) or going to one of their sports or activities.
I've put almost 9k miles on my car since November just driving back and forth from my home to the kids mothers house.
WHAT DO I WANT?
I'm trying to obtain custody of all four kids ( 3 kids, after my oldest graduates in June of this year )
I want to purchase a property in the Snoqualmie Valley, so that my kids can continue to go to school in the only district they have always attended.
I want to create a home that is stable, loving, safe, and supportive. I believe that all of my kids recognize that I am more capable of providing this then their mother. I have been doing this on a fractional budget, which has me living barely above poverty.
My kids do not describe their mother as a parent.
They have said as much to me "Thank God, Dad is at least a REAL parent"
I have always put my children at the top of my priority list, and if I am able to gain custody of my kids that will only become more evident.
There has been so much wasted over the last 9 years, and while this court battle will again drive me into debt further, I know that I will be able to turn this situation into the positive very shortly afterwards.
My children thank you for any help you can offer!
Mark
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