I have become increasingly disappointed and concerned with the lack of rights and respect that I seem to have as a Stepfather in the state of Utah. I have lived with my once divorced wife for a little over 7 years. I inherited a 1 1/2 year old little girl from my wife’s previous marriage. Along with that bundle of joy I picked up the ugly side of the stick, her biological father. My wife and I have been the primary custodial parents the entire time. My wife stays at home with our 3 children, (2 of ours) and my stepdaughter. Person X (the biological father) has, for the last 7 years entertained himself by taking us to court over and over again. Since I am the primary bread winner I get to cut the check every time this happens. Not to mention the day to day expenses of raising his child. I cover her on my insurance and take care of her over 300 days and nights per year. It frustrates me to no end that I am expected to be the bread winner and provider for this little girl and her father get's to skate to the bank and disrupt our lives over and over again. In our most recent trip to court, the ex asked for a guardian at litem to be appointed to see if our home is a fit place to raise a child. We have been visited by DCFS and the police several times over the last 7 years. The ex has also taken us to court and perjured himself before the judge with all sorts of allegations.
My hope on this chat board is to network with disgruntled step parents like me that are given all the responsibility of raising a child and sharing custody with a jerk and getting none of the legal say in what happens to her. Secondly is there any tricks/laws that will defend us financially from his harassment.
P.S. Our commissioner in Utah is a complete sexist jerk that has never given cadence to any of our requests or petitions. Please help.