Supporting Documents for a Custody Case - What should we include?
Hello everyone! So this post isn’t for me, technically.
My fiancé was a heavy alcoholic for many years. We’ve been together approximately 4 years. It’s of course been difficult, as loving someone in addiction often is. Upon learning he was facing literal death, he made a drastic change and is now over 18 months clean and sober (woo hoo! I’m so freaking proud of him). He received a liver transplant near the beginning of last year. He goes to AA twice weekly, speaks with his sponsor every day, and is even in a specialized AA group dedicated to his recovery.
Prior to his transplant, and during the thralls of his addiction, he was unable to see his children unless supervised and breathalyzed. Since his transplant and us moving in together (11 months ago), he has had his children every other weekend, unsupervised. He’s employed full time and we also recently bought a house together and all the children have their own rooms.
We don’t blame their mother for placing the restrictions she did on visitation. However, since allowing him unsupervised visits, she controls everything. Refuses to allow us to have them more often, changes the visitation at random and often without warning, and we’ve just had to do whatever she wants if we want to see the kids.
So, we’re currently working on a motion to change custody to allow us more time with them. NOT to take them away from her, just split time more evenly. I’ve been trying to think of what to include in the motion to support it. I.e. negative tests, letters of support, etc. Would I be able to put in a letter of support?
And just for some context. I also have children that we have 50% of the time. I’ve known my fiancé and his ex for many years, and we’ve all known each other’s kids since they were born. My fiancé has never been violent in the slightest,and even the judge previously acknowledged that he is a good dad when he maintains sobriety. I also work *for* the judge that will preside over their hearing. I want to support him however I can, but do not want to create a conflict of interest.
My fiancé is literally the best person I know. He deserves to see his children more, and they deserve to see him more. I trust can’t express how deeply proud of him I am. Or just how much he has changed his life for not only our children and me, but himself as well.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all!