child support and custody

[Anonymous]

My son is now 3 yrs old. I left for Iraq the first time when he was 4 months old and came back when he was 13 months. While I was there I supported my son and his dad. His dad never held down a job while I was in Iraq. When I got back I had no money and my son and only my son was wearing hand-me-downs. His dad was wearing name brand cloths. I divoriced his dad and moved on with my life with my son. In over 2 yrs he has seen his dad 5 or 6 times and his dad has not paid child support. Now I am being told that his dad may get custody of him and I will have to pay child support while I am deployed. I need help. I know if I give his dad money it will not go to my son and how can he get custody of a child that he never see's. Please can anyone help me.

[webadmin]

You need to go to JAG and get their help. They can guide you, but not represent you. You will have to get a lawyer where ever your ex is filing for custody to represent you in court. You are going to have to prove that you have made good arrangements for your son while you are deployed as I'm sure this will be the basis of his claim for custody. If you have a good lawyer, he will be able to argue that you have taken all the necessary steps to insure that your child is well cared for in your absence. You will need to provide documentation and your lawyer will also bring into play that fact the your ex has not supplied any form of child support or taken advantage of whatever visitation that has been given him. Your lawyer will also be able to play on the very fact that why he originally didn't take custody or volunteer to take care of his son during this deployment nor demand his rights to have custody of him while you were deployed. If you have a good lawyer, you will have nothing to fear.