My kids tell me their father smacks them, curses at them and smokes marijuana around or in front of them. He takes them around people who have threatened to kill my children, and those people show my children guns. The father also works with one of them. The father is also verbally abusive to me. (used to be physical too). My children have not seen their father since mid April. I cannot afford an attorney, and make too much money for legal aid. I eventually want to move from pa to tx with my children... what can I do?? So scared and stressed and confused.

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Originally Posted by tedsie

I eventually want to move from pa to tx with my children....what can I do???

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Hello t:

If you move without the courts permission, the court can make you move back.. What you need to do is hire a lawyer.. I know you say you can't afford it. I say you can't afford NOT to.

excon

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Originally Posted by tedsie

... My children have not seen their father since mid April. ...

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Why not? Has he failed to exercise his visitation or have you refused to permit it?

Is there a custody & visitation order in place?

No visitation or custody order. I'm nor permitting it. Guess I'll pay the consequences. Until then my babies are safe, loved, n protected. Their father is so fake and full of lies.

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Originally Posted by tedsie

No visitation or custody order. ...

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In that case, he has as much right to the children as you do. Is he on the birth certificates? If so, he could take them and move to (wherever in the country he chooses), and there would be nothing you could do but go to court and seek a custidy order.

Unfortunately yes he is on the birth certificate. I know. I am scared. No lawyer will help me because I am a single mom that can't afford them. This is crazy. I am starting to get depressed. I don't know what to do...

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Originally Posted by tedsie

.. I am scared. ... I am starting to get depressed. I don't know what to do......

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I don't quite understand your concern. You say that he hasn't seen them since April. Is he demanding visitation and threatening legal action?

And about your specific concerns:

He

• smacks them,
• curses at them and
• smokes marijuana around or in front of them.

- Not good things, for sure, but hardly life-threatening.

He

• takes them around people who have threatened to kill the children, and
• those people show your children guns.
  

-What are these threats all about? Do you know any more details? They showed guns to them - so? Was this part of the threatening? And I don't follow what the fact that their father works with one of these people has to do with anything.

Never mind. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. Pay consequences I guess. Yes, he wants visitation. I do not want my kids around the drugs and corruption. He won't comply with verbal agreements. So since I can't get help. I'll just do what I'm doing and pray he stays away. Thank you. I feel an 8 and 5 yr old do not need to be around or near people who threaten and corrupt with drugs, they had my 3 yr old high while I was at work. I cannot trust the father. I do not want my children around that lifestyle. Sorry. I love them too much.