It's over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Super~Single~Mama]

AND I WON!!!!!!!

I have SOLE custody!!!!!!

No trial, he settled at the last minute. He wanted too many overnights for my comfort level and the judge sided with me! And even if the judge hadn't, I was going to go to trial over it. But, I WON!!! And, its OVER!!! I get to move on with my life!!!!!

ETA - I need to add that its extra sweet b/c my ex told me hundreds of times that No judge, would ever, under any circumstances give me any form of custody of any baby ever. HA - he had to eat those words!!!!

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

HOLY #%*&@!%^&$R&^^%#(*&!@

Im speechless. Im ecstatic! Im excuberant. Im words I cant even come up with cuz my vocabulary SUX!!!!!!!!



Good Lord in heaven!!!

Not to jump the gun here, but does this mean you can take him home whenever you want? Im not up on the logistics of sole custody, but I knew that was something youve been wanting to do, even if just for vacation.

[NolaRiordan]

Oh conrats! So happy to hear this news. Hope you're doing something extra fun to celebrate.

[Halfasianmomma]

Oh. My. Friggin. God.

WHOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!



Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes thyra!!!! Let's do the dance of joy!! Dai dai dai dai dai dai daidai!! (old Perfect Stranger referece anyone?).

Give us the details!! What does sole custody entail? What are his visitation rights?

Wheeeeeee! I'm so happy for you!

[Super~Single~Mama]

He has great visitation, EOW Fri-Sun plus every Wednesday night.

I get to move within a 35mile radius of our previous residence, and he gets 3 weeks in the summer, no more than 2 weeks consecutive but he has to notify me by May 1st which dates he wants. I have to petition the court if I want to move more than 35miles, but 35miles is pretty far so I'm happy!

I'm going to have to figure out the logistics of having sole custody (like, do I need to provide copies of the court order to dr's, daycare, schools, etc? Especially since I don't want him to pick Lincoln up without my prior authorization - or if its one of his day's in the order). Ahh.....it feels so good!

[hillymum]

Thats fantastic news! Congratulations!!!

[Halfasianmomma]

Originally Posted by thyra

do I need to provide copies of the court order to dr's, daycare, schools, etc?

That's *exactly* what I did...the day after I won sole custody of DD. I provided a certified copy of the judgement of custody to DD's daycare owner & to the DCP, along with a pic of XH since they'd never seen him, clearly indicating that they could refuse him entry and contact the authorities should he try to take DD with him. It was a good day

[macheetah]

Congratulations!

In my situation, once I had the final order I made multiple copies of it and even kept one in my car glovebox for a while, just in case. I kept the original in a safety deposit box. I gave a copy to the daycare, and later the school.

[StephandOwen]

Woo-hoo!!!! How wonderful! I'm so glad things ended up well!

Originally Posted by thyra

I'm going to have to figure out the logistics of having sole custody (like, do I need to provide copies of the court order to dr's, daycare, schools, etc? Especially since I don't want him to pick Lincoln up without my prior authorization - or if its one of his day's in the order). Ahh.....it feels so good!

I worked at a daycare for years and this is what we told parents to do. We could NOT refuse a parent contact with their child (and we had to allow them to leave with the child) UNLESS we had a court order on file. So get that court order to them ASAP! Before I started working there we had a family (2 small boys) and mom and dad were getting divorced. Dad came to the daycare IRATE about something that had happened between the two of them. Mom was already there picking up the kids. Dad wanted the kids, mom refused. The dad beat the snot out of the mom (in front of everyone! including the boys!), took the boys and ran. The mom got the boys back from the dad shortly after (waited until he drank to the point of passing out that night then took the boys back) BUT they had to continue letting the dad take the boys until there was a court order stating he couldn't. I think the mom got beat up a couple more times before she finally filed a restraining order and took the UAV to court for custody of the kids (she now has full custody and he has no visitation rights at all). But daycares/schools have their hands tied unless there is a court order on file with them.

[MissLotus]

I'm so glad for you! What a great feeling - to be able to move on with your life and in your terms. Congratulations!

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by StephandOwen

I worked at a daycare for years and this is what we told parents to do. We could NOT refuse a parent contact with their child (and we had to allow them to leave with the child) UNLESS we had a court order on file. So get that court order to them ASAP! Before I started working there we had a family (2 small boys) and mom and dad were getting divorced. Dad came to the daycare IRATE about something that had happened between the two of them. Mom was already there picking up the kids. Dad wanted the kids, mom refused. The dad beat the snot out of the mom (in front of everyone! including the boys!), took the boys and ran. The mom got the boys back from the dad shortly after (waited until he drank to the point of passing out that night then took the boys back) BUT they had to continue letting the dad take the boys until there was a court order stating he couldn't. I think the mom got beat up a couple more times before she finally filed a restraining order and took the UAV to court for custody of the kids (she now has full custody and he has no visitation rights at all). But daycares/schools have their hands tied unless there is a court order on file with them.

Thanks for this! I'm not so worried he's going to try anything, I just want to make sure I have my bases covered. And he is (in the court order) allowed to pick ds up once/week on Wednesday.

One question though Steph, do they need to be certified copies? I have to go to the court house later anyway, I could just get like 6copies if I need certified copies. Or is just a regular copy good enough? I only ask b/c I can make copies for free, but certified cost at the court house - but I'll pay for them if I have to. I really don't care.

[Halfasianmomma]

I'd do certified copies so there's NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER that the document you're handing over is the real deal. Better safe than sorry.

[Ceinwen]

Hoooooraaaaaay!!!! Congrats mama!

[josie143]

Oh conrats!

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by thyra

One question though Steph, do they need to be certified copies?

I don't know about other places, but we could only accept certified copies. I would go ahead and do certified. It costs more, but you know there will be no questions about it (especially if he were to show up, cops got called, etc).

[2xand2y]

YAAAAYYYYYY!!!! Holy Goodness, that is so awesome. Congratulations!

[meemee]

oh what FANTATIC NEWS!!!!

yeah thyra do certified copies. i know at our school which didnt need certified copies last year there was some trouble with the cops being called out (i think whoever overreacted - we had to empty out the school - this was afterschool and some parents were volunteering). so yeah its worth the $$$s. in fact i would get a couple of extra copies done for just in case.

HAH!!!!! i am esp. celebrating all the words he had to eat. that is the scare tactic they use to put fear into us. and hey 35m is a pretty good distance. within the next couple of years i will be moving 20 mls to go to university in another city. i myself would not be willing to move any futher as it would make commuting tough.

[Super~Single~Mama]

So I got the certified copies, and the guy was super nice and gave me 2 for FREE!!! Such a relief!

Any other logistical things I need to know about having sole custody?

[Everrgreen]

YAY! YAY! YAY! You must be just so completely relieved and happy right now. Congrats, I'm glad everything worked out for you

[Latte Mama]

Congrats mama! Wow you must be on cloud 9 right about now!