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Re: ANYONE who "KNOWS" Georgia custody laws???

From: a mom
Date: 20 May 2003
Time: 21:44:21
Remote Name: 12.169.104.129

Comments

First, I am not an attorney. But here are some suggestions. First and foremost, Leaving the youngest unattended in the home is NEGLECT and is dangerous and falls under abuse/neglect laws,and you have a duty to protect your children. What if the house caught fire while your ex-husband was driving your oldest to try to catch the school bus and while your infant was left alone in that house? Collect yourself, calm down, and Look under government listings in your local phone book and check for Department of Health and Human Resources, Child Protection Division, or Social Services. You have to find out what the agency is called in your location. Look for numbers to report Child Abuse. Express your concerns about your children's safety only and your concerns of your child missing school due to your ex sleeping in, etc., and falling asleep to leave the children unattended, etc., STICK TO THE FACTS, don't go into your fears about your ex moving, or how he screwed you over in the divorce. REPORT THE NEGLECT ONLY AT THIS POINT AND REQUEST AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION, also, if your parents are also aware of any additional problems, request that they call DHHR also and report their concerns. THE MORE CALLS DHHR RECEIVES, THE MORE LIKELY THEY WILL INVESTIGATE. If DHHR does investigate, Request your parents to apply for emergency custody, or you can try to look up PRO SE instructions on your state's Legal Aid website and try to file for emergency custody yourself. Check to see if your county has a pro se coordinator for information, and clerks at the courthouse are knowledgable on what forms to use for what, etc. Be aware that if a full-blown DHHR investigation is enacted, you too might be named in the abuse/neglect investigation. However, then you will be assigned a court-appointed attorney if you cannot afford your own attorney, and you should be cleared of any abuse/neglect charges when it is learned that you reported the neglect as soon as you learned of it, and you will be able to be involved in the investigation process, and then you or your parents can request that your ex be ordered not to leave the state with your children until the matter is investigated. Remember to collect yourself, remain calm. If you must cry, etc., don't do it in front of DHHR workers or judges, etc. Judges can interpret emotions as "instability". Present yourself always as the calm, reasonable, caring parent.

Consider obtaining both the Win Child Custody and Custody Evaluation Videos at http://www.winchildcustody.com and http://www.custodyevaluation.com They will be invaluable for your case.

Last changed: October 31, 2003