At least once every other month, he can’t drop the kids off because his car is in the shop, no gas money, the tires went flat, the brakes went out, etc. I get that life happens and I honestly try to help out and co-parent when I can. We live approximately 3 hours apart, and I can’t spend 6 hours driving to him and back all the time because his transportation is unreliable. Before people suggest I just make him miss out on his custody, it’s always ‘conveniently’ when it’s time for the kids to come back with me. I’m sure he would try saying I’m keeping them during his parenting time or something else to turn it on me in court if I tried it anyway.
Exactly what does your court order say about who picks up or drops off, and what the locations are?
Get a parenting app and only communicate through that.
Ask for absolutely all communication to be through a court-ordered app so it’s easier to have evidence. Whoever’s spending time with the kids goes to get them. See him fix his issues really fast. If he doesn’t, go to court again and show the evidence.
Change the court order to say that the receiving parent provides transportation. He picks up at the beginning of his custody time. If his car is broken, too bad. Then you pick up at the start of your parenting time.
Keep track of all his excuses for not wanting to pick up or drop off the kids. If the courts see a pattern with his vehicle issues, they may add in the court order that the receiving parent picks up the kids or both parents have to drive halfway.
Agreed, document day, time, means of communication, and what was said. Get it all on text and do screenshots. Save in a folder.
The court will easily see he’s the one who moved and made it difficult.
That is why you want the receiving parent to pick up in the court order. As long as you are following the court order, what he says is irrelevant.