I appreciate your time and help. I’m in California and currently going through a divorce with an active DVRO (Domestic Violence Restraining Order) against my ex. The judge recently allowed me to go to his home to collect my daughter’s belongings since I have full custody. However, I suspect he’s hiding some of the items in storage, knowing that I’ll be coming with the police.
I have photos of her room and the items that were there before I left in March. My concern is that when I arrive with the police, some of the belongings may no longer be in the home. If he denies taking anything out or getting rid of items, what options do I have? I’ve already provided proof to the court that he had some of our stuff sold through Facebook by a friend. How can I ensure I get all of her belongings back, especially if he’s trying to keep some hidden?
You can ask the police to be there with you. But think carefully about whether it’s worth it. Most of these things can be replaced, and it might not be worth the trouble and stress to chase after him. He wants to drag you into a fight over it. If you show him that you don’t care about the stuff, he might give it up. Sometimes it’s better to handle things in a smarter way rather than just trying hard.
Hey Sandra,
Call the police to be present while you collect the property from the home. Whatever you find is what you get; if he moved things, you might not be able to recover them right now. For anything else, you’ll need to go through the court.