Legal Question in Family Law in Pennsylvania

Unstable, alcohol addicted ex-husband putting my kids at risk

I've been divorced for 9 years. My ex-husband is a decent guy at heart, but he is very unstable. He is an alcoholic and has been for 20 years or more. He promised me when we split that he would keep sober when he has our kids (2 wkends/mo). He hasn't. In fact he almost died last year of gastric hemorrhaging from his excessive drinking. He makes well over 80k per yr, yet has no home (literally--he bounces back & forth between his exgirlfriend (also an addict) his mom & friends. I never know where he is taking the kids. The last straw for me was when he took my kids away for a weekend, left them in the room to go to a bar (he told them he was singing karaoke)& woke my 9 year old daughter up at 2 a.m. to make him a sandwich. My 13 year old son is very angry & resentful, but does not show it toward his dad. I don't want the kids to stop seeing their dad, but they need more stability. I was divorced in PA but have lived in NJ for 4 years, am happily remarried. Also, I am afraid if I force the issue he will stop paying support (PA is NOT like NJ--he's been in arrears from day one, as high as $8000 & I could not even get a lien against his property). I'm at a loss-I've called the court but was told the case was PA jurisdiction.


Asked on 2/24/05, 11:21 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Johns Mark Johns, Esquire

Re: Unstable, alcohol addicted ex-husband putting my kids at risk

You might want to ask the court to chnage his custody from overnights to supervised visitation. You can also ask for a physical examination due to his alcohol abuse. Finally, you may be entitlted to a new support order due to his income to pay the arrears down faster. I offer free consultations.

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Answered on 2/26/05, 8:55 am


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