Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Interferance with seeing children

I have 2 daughters, ages 13 and 16. The divorce decree regarding the children states I am to pick up my girls after school everyday, and they stay with me daily until their mother picks them up around 6pm. This worked great for the first 6 years, but 2 years ago the mother decided my oldest didn't need to be picked up anymore...which interfered with me seeing her. I have brought the matter before the courts twice, but because they say it does nobody any good to lock the mother up, they simply tell her she needs to comply with the court order in place. She says ''yes sir'' and off she goes to continue doing what she has done the last 2 years. I seldom get to see my oldest daughter anymore because of it...she would rather run loose and do as she pleases with no supervision from dad if mom says she doesn't need to. Now the mother has done exactly the same thing with my 13 year old. I don't get to see her much anymore at all either. I would like to bring it before the courts again, but feel after 2 attempts already, what's the point. I have filed contempt of court 2 times, and that's not working. What else is there I might do that would be more effective to see the order that is in place if followed by her?


Asked on 10/10/07, 2:50 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Elizabeth Powell ELizabeth Powell PS Inc

Re: Interferance with seeing children

Lawyer up. The facts you present are clearly a violation of the parenting plan you have in place and the mother has no right whatsoever to unilaterally restrict your time with your daughters.

A local family law attorney will be familiar with the case called Rideout where the mother wasn't incarcerated but rather was ordered to pay a LOT of attorney fees for engaging in interference with the father's time with the children.

Clearly asking for incarceration isn't working. So, your best bet is to have counsel help you do this, so your efforts will be sucessful. Three contempt orders are a basis to re-designate custody.

Hope this helps. Elizabeth Powell

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Answered on 10/10/07, 9:37 am


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