I need somebody from outside to give me some guidance, I have to go to court on the 16th ( in two days), I don't have any custody right now, we are doing it for the first time, my ex was in a car accident more than 3 years ago and suffered brain damage, she s being rehabilitating but she is still a long ways to go, physically and mentally. We had been at it since January and I fire my lawyer because he was dragging his feet. My ex can get custody, she is in a home, the problem that I have its her family, the are always forcing me to take my daughter to California so they can see her but they never moved a finger to come see her, not even when I was living in Vegas that it wasn't to far for them, I always offered them a room and food, so of course all they have to do was pay for the bus ticket. but the refused to came under the excuse that the mother is the one who has to see her, not them, but of course the time that I showed up at the hospital without notice the get upset because I didn't tell them. Any way, We are having all this problems because I didn't agree the 5 weeks per year they wanted to get, I offered to fly the mother to TX a few times out of the year, plus pay for somebody to take care of her while she was here but the family refused. I don't have the problem in the family seeing my daughter but I do have a really big problem to live them in their care for a week at a time. I know grandparents can't have rights but I think the judge is inclined to think that if the mother is going to be staying at the grandparents when she gets her visitation thats where its going to be. I can't seemed to be able to make a difference between the mother and the rest of the family to the judge. To give you and example, last time I took it to California they called the police and try to take my daughter away from me, it was a very stressing moment for my and my daughter.
One of the problems that I have with the family is that they are always badmouthing me to my daughter and the are always playing mind games with her. Somebody please give me an impression of my situation. Besides I can't really afford to go to CA for a week at a time and paying $100 per night at a motel, and the way my job is currently set up I have other ppl depending on my. I figure the judge have to have under consideration the fact that I always been the sole provider for my daughter, I changed jobs after the accident to work from home so I can take better care of my daughter, I've been hurt financially. What I'm trying to say is this,I've doing everything that I was supposed to, bought a house for me and my daughter to live in, pay medical insurance, take her to the park, thought her how to swim, horseback ride, two languages, etc. I have my limitation, but I'm afraid I'm becoming to stubborn on this visitation issue. what do you think??????

I don't follow everything you said, but . . .
The courts in Texas took into account who was the true provider of care for the kids, who fed, and bathed the kids, who took the kids to the doctor, who arranged after school care, and lots of stuff that you obviously are doing.

The problem is that once one parent gets custody in some weird way, it can be hard to pry their hands off. You have to make an even stronger case to overcome the present situation. The court doesn't want to rock the boat. They want to leave the child where they might be settling in. Basically you have to prove the other parent neglegent, and unfit. No longer is it proving what's in the child's best interest.

I just read what I wrote and I guess its hard to understand, sometimes I write too fast and get lost with my thoughts and don't make much sense. I know I'll get custody, my daughter lives with me, my problem is taking her to CA for weeks at a time and live it with the grandmother just because the mother happen to live there, keep in mind that the mother is not able to care for Stacy

Do you have an existing order? Is the case being heard in TX or in CA? I know how Texas works. Been thru the court system here, and I've actually taken the time to read the Family Law. Doesn't mean I understand it all, just means I know enough to be dangerous to myself.

The case is being heard here in Denton, TX, I went to court today and the judge issue a temporary order for my daughter to visit her mother at the grandparents house twice before the end of the year, one of the is going to fly here and pick her up on a Friday and bring her back next monday, I don't feel comfortable with this but I can't afford to fly her my self right now and if they are willing to put up the money to come and get her, let it be, It's only two times and we'll see what happens after that. I have the social study schedule for the 24, let's see what happens.