Hey guys, I’ve got a question. I have sole custody of my two kids according to my divorce order, and I control visitation.
Recently, their mother, who has been dealing with serious mental health issues for years, has resurfaced. She’s insisting she still has parental rights to see the children and be involved in their lives. I’m not sure if she legally has any rights left. Before I shell out money on a lawyer, I want to know if she has any legal standing at all.
My kids are old enough that their wishes count too.
We’re in Maryland, so any insights or advice would be really helpful.
My mom and her partner raised me. My biological father contacts me sporadically with random topics. His latest messages were about the history of Morse code, all in caps. As an adult, I’ve always felt that he loves me, but I’m grateful he didn’t raise me. Kids really benefit from stability and predictability.
If your ex proves to the court that she’s now stable, hopefully she can stay in one location so the kids can have her in their lives. But don’t automatically assume that without a thorough evaluation, especially considering her past mental health issues.
The details should be clearly outlined in the court orders.
I currently have sole custody until my ex completes a psychological evaluation. However, I am required to make our children available for calls (conducted via Zoom) a few times a week as per the orders. The weekend call can be substituted with time at a supervised visitation center if she decides to do so. I also need to keep her informed about medical matters and public events where the children will be present and which she could attend. She is responsible for signing up for school notifications herself.
It depends on what the custodial order granted you and what the visitation rights are saying. She can challenge you in a court of law though, but at the moment I do not see how she can get involved in the children’s lives