First Court Hearing Was This Morning

[Before you can make things better, you have to stop making them worse...]

The Judge signed an emergency order on Monday and our first court appearance was this morning. I have retained sole physical and legal custody. BPDex has been denied parenting time. A guardian ad litem has been assigned and the judge granted the GaL the power to change parenting time between now and the next hearing in four months. We both have been ordered for drug/alcohol assessments and psychological evaluations. We both have to take a drug test within 24 hours.

[papawapa]

The Judge signed an emergency order on Monday and our first court appearance was this morning. I have retained sole physical and legal custody. BPDex has been denied parenting time. A guardian ad litem has been assigned and the judge granted the GaL the power to change parenting time between now and the next hearing in four months. We both have been ordered for drug/alcohol assessments and psychological evaluations. We both have to take a drug test within 24 hours.

[marbleloser]

Awesome news! If any way possible,delay,delay,delay! While you're delaying,keep being a great dad and be wary of the GAL.Not paranoid wary,but keep in mind he/she will be influenced by both sides and one side isn't always truthful.

[Matt]

Marble says, ":)elay" - one reason that could be good is that the longer the kids are with you - and doing well - the more the court will view that as the status quo.  If the kids are with you for several months, and if they are doing OK, the court may be reluctant to make any changes, except maybe giving Mom some minimal parenting time - maybe supervised.

Are the psych evals to include objective testing, like the MMPI-2?  If that's not clear, consider filing a motion to make sure that's how they will be done.  Someone with BPD and/or some other problem might fool even an expert relying on an interview, but they probably can't fool an objective instrument like the MMPI-2.

The biggest risk seems to be that the GAL will arbitrarily make some changes.  Will you have a chance to talk with her, and find out how she will handle that responsibility?

[papawapa]

Yes the psych eval will include objective testing as well as both of us being interviewed by the same Dr.

I think the GaL is very good at what she does. It turns out that she already knows the therapists I have been taking my children to see for the last year after they were sexually abused by their half-brother. Both therapists have made it clear to me that they believe it is best for the kids to be away from mom. And if the GaL changes anything and I don't like it we can take it to the judge and get an expedited hearing. The GaL will be coming on Thursday to meet the kids.