I was wondering if a judge can tell you where you can live? I thought this was America where you were free?

Uummm, how do you mean? America is a free country, but there are laws that everyone need to follow so we can live half way decent lives. What's the reason a judge would tell you to move or live some where else. The only time he/she would tell you is if you are in court because of a hearing for breaking the laws or something that made you be in court. What happened?

I don't really know to be honest... um.. my ex has had me in court uumpteen dozen times over stupid crap. And the judge just looked at me and said,"well, ms.. so and so... looks like you will have to stay in wv which is where I am originally from anyway. Then he wonders why I can't see our kids that often because he took me back to court to get his child support modified. Now he gets half my pay every 2 weeks. And how you supposed to live? Pay bills? And all of that stuff.


Thanks for reading!

I don't really know to be honest...um..my ex has had me in court uumpteen dozen times over stupid crap. And the judge just looked at me and said,"well, ms..so and so....looks like you will have to stay in wv which is where iam originally from anyways. Then he wonders why I can't see our kids that often because he took me back to court to get his child support modified. Now he gets half my pay every 2 weeks. And how you supposed to live? Pay bills? And all of that stuff.


Thanks for reading!

Wow, when your dealing with child support and an ex it just makes things harder. I used to live in Wv, and I still have family there, money is harder to come by there. I wouldn't give up fighting though, if he is making more then you, and its hard to see your children due to the location or whatever, then I would go back to court. Some times the judge has a little bit of heart and will lower your rate or something. Good luck;) :(

Whatever gave you the idea that you are free? Yes America is a "free" country, but freedom, even in America, is not and never was absolute. Are we free to kill someone we don't like? Are we free to steal our neighbor's cow? Are we free to live anywhere we want to regardless of who owns the property? The answer to all those questions is no.

To answer your first post, a judge certainly can tell you where you can live under a variety of circumstances. Iif you are a convicted felon on parole for example.

Now for us to help you, you need to tell us the full story. It would seem you were told to stay because of custody issues. You are apparently the mother, and the father has custody so you are paying support? If you are the custodial parent, that would restrict you from being able to move since it would affect the non custodial parent's visitation.

As a non-custodial parent you are always free to move. But you'll have to attempt to get your visitation order modified to accommodate your new location if you want to see your kids. You'll also have to continue paying child support as per your current order. Perhaps the judge isn't willing to do that? Also you'd have to bear the expenses for travel in order to accommodate your visitation if you were to relocate out of your current area. I don't think it's so much that the judge is telling you that you can't move, it's just that he's making it difficult for you to do so.