my ex wife decided on thursday that rather than meet me at her house an hour outside of st. louis, as agreed for xmas a month and a half ago, that she was going to meet me in birmingham alabama where I was planning on going with him, instead. it wouldn't be such a big deal except for I live in virginia, and already have plane tickets to st. louis, they're non refundable, and its going to cost over $600 for new ones to alabama, theres no specific mention of where to meet, but she agreed to meet at her place, like I said a month and a half ago, and I have the email she said she would

What a mess. Are you accompaning your son? I hope so, the airport is horrible this time of year for a mixup. They may be overbooked, you could get bumped, experience delays....etc.

Check your visitation schedule and be careful about agreeing to changing plans verbally. A lot of visitation agreements ask parents to pay for 1/2 the travel cost...however, changing airline tickets in the middle of the busiest travel time of the year doesn't sound reasonable to me. Don't deny her the visit... ask her to clarify how she plans to gain possession of your child after she changed the location last minute.

quote:

Originally posted by cato421:
my ex wife decided on thursday that rather than meet me at her house an hour outside of st. louis, as agreed for xmas a month and a half ago, that she was going to meet me in birmingham alabama where I was planning on going with him, instead. it wouldn't be such a big deal except for I live in virginia, and already have plane tickets to st. louis, they're non refundable, and its going to cost over $600 for new ones to alabama, theres no specific mention of where to meet, but she agreed to meet at her place, like I said a month and a half ago, and I have the email she said she would

Does she have the money to pay for the tickets to change the plans, if not she needs to go ahead as your originally planned. Courts don't take to kindly to parents taking it on themselves to do as they please.

he's not flying, I am, I'm supposed to pick him up in mo. she changed it to alabama, all this transpires over email, as we don't get along, and I don't like phone conversations because they're a pain to record and/or prove what was said.

quote:

Originally posted by cato421:
he's not flying, I am, I'm supposed to pick him up in mo. she changed it to alabama, all this transpires over email, as we don't get along, and I don't like phone conversations because they're a pain to record and/or prove what was said.

I know you were flying and she changed it to Alabama, but SHE should pay for the ticket change since SHE made the changes without you agreeing. Why would you buy a ticket for another city in a judges eye if the plans were for Alabama to begin with? Doesn't make sense except that you already had plans to go there and she changed them. Your ticket is already proof and the time of when you bought the ticket. She could TRY to come up with a story to justify you buying the ticket, but what proof would she have of her story? The ticket, receipt and your testimony are more then enough to a judge on something like this.

Most likely she will come up with an excuse of WHY she changed the plans rather then lie and say those were the original plans. You an also document the conversation of you trying to disagree with her on the issue. All of that will strengthen your case.

next question, as this is transpiring xmas day and everything is closed tomorrow, I'm sure this will help my case for custody later, but what are my repercussions right now?

quote:

Originally posted by cato421:
next question, as this is transpiring xmas day and everything is closed tomorrow, I'm sure this will help my case for custody later, but what are my repercussions right now?

First I would call her even though I know it feels like someone is driving a nail into your head! Try to explain to her the situation. See how she reacts and find out her reasons for the change. If she is having personal problems outside the children, she needs to accept the children must come first and an agreement is an agreement. Also remind her that is she wishes to change tings once an agreement is made, both sides must agree or else it is unfair to both parties that one party can do as he or she pleases without regards to the other parent or really the best interests of the children.