Recently my first daughter's mother passed away, and it was rumored that it was a combination of alcohol/perscription drug overdose. We have not been together from almost since my daughter was born and I am now married to my second daughters mother. After her death, the father of my ex came to the house and took the child from her home. Child Protection services was never contacted. Since then, there has been a Petition for Temporary Gaurdianship filed and granted by a judge. The problem is, is that the family gave false information (they claimed to not know my whereabouts). I have never missed a child support payment, and I have always kept medical coverage current on my daughter. The CRSU most certainly knows my address, where I work and what my phone number is. My daughters grandmother (my mother) lives not 1 mile from her. Now, the STEP-aunt that has temporary gaurdianship of my daughter will NOT let anyone in MY family see her, and will not let me see her either. I am a helpless because I live in the state of WA, and I cannot just pop over to get her or see her. My question is, how in the world is it LEGAL to walk into a judges office give a bit of information and have a judge/lawyer completely NOT follow up and try to verify that information, and then keep the father from being able to bring her home? Needless to say, another ridiculous point to mention, is that I had a previous judgement decided upon, in court of law, that stated I was her biological father and that I had visitation rights. Also now my wife and I are being treated like the burnden of proof is on us to prove that we are capable of having custody of my daughter. What ever happened to a natrual parents rights? What kind of protection do I have as her father? Apparently none. I do have a lawyer and a court date but I feel that my rights have already been violated by fraudulant lies used to twist the legal system. Every parent should be terrified that this could happen to them.

I am happy to hear that you have an attorney and hopefully he will be able to vindicate your rights.

Well, being that I am paying child support and providing for my family, I am running out of funds to keep on paying for my lawyer. To matters worse the family keeps on getting ridiculous continuences, pushing the hearing date further and further. Any ideas?

Have your attorney ask for legal fees if your state allows it.

What about filing a "writ of habeas corpus"? Would this speed up the hearing?

That is typically used for criminal matters.

My lawyer filed it and now we have a hearing. The step-aunt is required to bring her to the court house that day. So we will see what happens.