Hi everyone,
My husband and I are very frustrated at this point. He has two children with his ex. Her husband is abusive to her and them. This summer her family called us and told us that she planned to move to Virginia with the kids and her husband. Her mother finally convinced her to let her take the kids for the summer so we could see them every other week. We have reported abuse to DCYS and they have an investigation pending. Also there has never been a court order for visitation but he does pay child support every week. So we were taking them every other week and the last time we picked them up, they were infested with lice and nothing was being done about it. So we spent all week trying to get rid of them. Then this past weekend, after being gone for a month, their mother shows up and demands us to give the kids back to her. Supposedly she has left her abusive husband and is now living with her parents in a 4 ROOM apartment with 10 people! The girls did not want to go back, they cried. But we called the police and they told us there was nothing they could do because we didn't have anything in writing. So aside from filing court papers, we don't know what else to do. We are worried that she is going to move away with them and we will never see them again and no one is willing to help us with this. We didn't file the paperwork sooner with the court because they kept telling us that we couldn't without an address for her, which she refused to give us. We are just so frustrated. The girls are not being taken care of and have been in violent situations for years now. Does anyone know what our rights are? Could we possibly gain sole custody of them? How do we do this quickly before she leaves the state with them? If anyone has been in this situation, please contact me as I would love to talk with someone who can give us advise. Thank you!