Chapter 9 - My custody filing
My mistake came fast.
I filed for emergency temporary custody.
Reasonable.
Then I went too far.
In my affidavit, angry and sleep-deprived, I wrote:
“Laura either knew or deliberately ignored Derek’s abuse of Emily.”
Rebecca Sloan, my family-law attorney, asked:
“Can you prove knew?”
“She knew he was strict.”
“That is not the same noun.”
“She knew he took her door off.”
“Concerning. Still not cage.”
“She knew about the laundry room.”
“Yes.”
“She left Emily with him anyway.”
“That is judgment. We can address judgment.”
I stared.
“You’re defending her?”
“No. I’m preventing you from saying more than evidence supports.”
I removed:
deliberately.
Kept:
ignored warning signs.
Even that became contested.
The court placed Emily primarily with me temporarily.
Laura received frequent contact and daytime parenting time initially, with a safety plan prohibiting Derek.
No finding that Laura abused Emily.
No permanent custody transfer.
The judge said:
“This is an interim safety arrangement while facts are developed.”
I wanted the court to declare me right.
May you like
Courts are not built to soothe fathers.
Good.
