Two years ago, Christina and Joel divorced. Although a bit rocky, both managed to agree to move to Sun Prairie, WI together to offer their children consistency in school, daycare and environment, as well as make transitions between parents easier to manage.
In July of 2016, Joel moved to Baraboo, an hour away, buying a house and beginning a new life with his pregnant girlfriend. At this time Joel began to pressure Christina into giving him primary custody and moving the children to Baraboo, despite the fact that they could keep their lives in Sun Prairie by staying primarily with Christina.
A new custody case was opened with the court, and Joel retained an attorney. At this time Christina felt very pressured and also retained an attorney, spending all her minimal savings and borrowing money from her parents. With the new school year, it was agreed that Joel's threat to enroll the children in Baraboo was null and void. Christina was given primary custody through an agreed placement schedule and a court hearing was settled for November. Christina was, and still is, receiving 1/10 of the standard 25% child support. Joel has not paid his court ordered half of the children's expenses in a year and still refuses to do so.
In November, another placement schedule was agreed on, child support, back paid expenses and a stipulation that expenses under $200 per instance did not require the other parent's permission were ordered.
Despite this, Joel and his attorney fought to push back child support, saying that Christina's decision to make less money in order to get a job that aligned with the children's school schedule was a malicious ploy to simply gain more child support. Joel continues to not pay 50% of the girls' expenses, saying he doesn't agree that the children need counseling, a phone to contact Christina (he doesn't allow them to use his), or the ability to gain some sense of normalcy through a membership at the YMCA, gymnastics and swimming.
Joel has also decided not to take placement during the weekdays (unofficially) because of the cost of gas to drive the girls back and forth to school. He does not work on these days. He attempted to force Christina to give up all weekends because of this, which she denied.
During yet another hearing in February, Joel insisted to the judge that he wants the children moved to Baraboo and himself to have primary custody. As a result, the case has been sent to investigation by Family Court Services.
Christina has put every cent earned into providing for the children, paying off marital debts and paying her lawyer, the Guardian ad Litem (children's lawyer) and now fees for the court investigation. She currently owes $3,600 to her lawyer, $200 to the GAL, needs a minimum of $2,000 to retain her lawyer for a motion to get the court to again order that Joel needs to pay his half of the children's expenses. She has given up her vehicle, extras such as yoga memberships and eating out, and is attempting to find financial aid wherever possible. We anticipate a minimum of $20,000 to pay lawyers to get through this study and hopefully have it come to light that the children will be much happier continuing their lives in Sun Prairie. Both girls love the area, have friends, extracurricular activities, schools they adore and a strong relationship with their mother, who strives to give them a calm, balanced life. The children struggle with anxiety and Christina is just trying to give them a schedule they can look forward to, while maintaining boundaries that prevent Joel and his fiancé from keeping the children from her by refusing to follow dates and times for transitions, by insisting that if she doesn't travel to their house to pick up the children, that they would not bring the girls to their school the next day. They also use transitions to verbally berate Christina in front of the children. Most recently, Joel locked the children in the car until his fiancé was done with her diatribe of horrible accusations, all within earshot of the children. Christina did nothing but beg for the release of the children.
Please help Christina pay for the lawyer fees necessary to get a court recommended schedule, to receive child support in full, to receive repayment of expenses, and be able to provide the children with a steady lifestyle in an environment that truly has them in the forefront. Any little bit helps! Christina will not stop putting every penny toward ensuring the children are protected and loved, no matter how much is earned here! She has worked very hard to get this far!
