Ex-husband has a unfit living environment. Do I have to let my children go there?
My ex husband has a 2 bedroom home. There is a hole in the roof that likes and has caused the walls in the stairwell leading to the basement to be covered in mold. I also know that a small portion of the kitchen ceiling has fallen. My ex and I have three children together. He is now re-married and she has a 17 yr. old that lives with them. Like I said he has a 2 bedroom home, my problem with this is I have a 6 year old daughter and her bed is in what used to be the dining room and is open to the rest of the house so she has no privacy. In the bedroom where the 17 year old sleeps there are only two beds and I have two sons age 9 and 7. They are expected to sleep in the same bed in the room with the 17 year old. I also know that the house has lead based paint in it that has not been covered up in three years. So, my question is do I have to let my children go to his house seeing as it is a very unfit environment?
What you describe is a dangerous, physically and mentally unhealthy environment for any human being. I assume the children sleep over as part of a shared custody legal agreement which define his support payments. Unless visitation rights are willingly adjusted by your ex, you will have to plead your case in family court. You would then need a lawyer. Photos of living conditions, proof of lead based paint and mold will be invaluable in winning your case.
Possibly your ex, with help from his new spouse can be convinced to give up the sleepovers – thus avoiding court expenses. Picnics or day trips or creative outings, the zoo or something the children will decide themselves would be a warm, interesting time together. No need to spend much money. If they want to be together, even a game in the park or feeding the birds or a cycling adventure would be fun.
You could both cooperate on this by setting a certain amount of money aside each pay – an amount strictly for these out of house visits. And you could make a lunch basket for the four – something different, fun – the kids would help with the menu and hands-on.
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