Legal Question in Family Law in Iowa

My husband and I have custody of his 3 kids. They visit their mother every other weekend. The two oldest are 13 and 15. They are at an age now where they want to be in sports, particpate in school functions, hang out wiht friends, and get a job. Their mother lives an hour a way and refuses to attend their school functions or transport them to any school functions. She informs the kids that if they have an event on her weekend they have to skip it, even if it is a sport tournament or something.

Can we have court documents drawn up that allow the 13 and 15 year old to choose if they want to go to her house or not? Typically they do not want to go there for the reason above but also for several other reasons. She lives with her current husbund 4 other kids in a 2 bedroom trailer. They are disrespectful to the kids, they kids do not enjoy going there, and she degrades them.

Do we have to force the kids to go there every other weekend and miss their school functions or can we have legal papers stating they can make their own decisions since they are teenages?


Asked on 2/03/10, 9:08 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Luedeman solo practitioner

Unfortunately your sole remedy if you seek to amend the terms of the childrens' custody is to get your attorney, go to court, and petition for a modification of the custody and support agreement.

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Answered on 2/08/10, 9:26 am


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