Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Housing Requirements for Divorced Persons

Hi. My divorce was finalized in July of 2004 and what I am most concerned about are my ex husbands living arangements. I send my children to his home because I am required to by law but I am curious if there is anything I do about a situation. I have given him at least 8 months to find an apartment but he refuses. He works and lives at the place. He does Sheet Metal work which means there is metal all over the place and huge machines. The ''apartment'' he lives in was build in the middle of a huge metal building and was designed for the owner of the company, who is a bachelor. This ''apartment'' is maybe 800square feet. There is so much clutter and filth it. I have even cleaned it before, as has my sister because he won't. The whole place is riddled with cockroaches and roach poop. My children sleep on the floor next to their father. They are both girls ages 7 & 4. When you leave that ''apartment'' your covered in black dirt matter and my children go without shoes in there. When I see them their feet are filthy as are their hands and clothes. Everytime he has them and they are left alone in there so he can be downstairs working from (7am-3pm). This is an unsafe situation for my girls. Can we force him to provide a safe place 4 my kids?


Asked on 11/29/05, 5:19 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
TC Langford Langford Law Office

Re: Housing Requirements for Divorced Persons

You are in a difficult situation, especially if this was the living arrangement at the time of the divorce decree. If your description is accurate, however, and the arrangements are not only undesirable, but dangerous, then you MUST contact the court. You should get an attorney to modify the decree to require an alteration in living conditions or an alternate place of visitation. Wealth is not a requirement, but basic safety is. If you cannot afford an attorney, and cannot access low-income legal help, then contact CPS, (which I believe should be the last choice). TCL

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Answered on 11/30/05, 10:50 am


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