Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

What are our rights

My husband gained joint custody, with physical custody of his son last year, because he claimed that his mother was abusive to him. The sad part is after visits with her he is worst,and she is playing a role in his attitude. He has been told I'm trying to take her place. So far he found a cell phone that was given to him by his mother, with my husbands work & home listed as ''Bastard''. One of the emails that he sent his mother stated (concerning me ) ''just like you said mommy, she is just another person on the street''. We are now beginning to wonder did he lie about the things that he said she done to him. This woman has done some very nasty things to my husband throughout the years, to include trying to get his kids to hate him. My husband has refused to turn the cell phone back over to them, because he really wants something done about this. The woman is not going to change, and the situation is going to get progressively worst. She is trying to get her son to believe that my hausband is mentally abusing him, and do not care about him. The last straw was his school informed my husband that she has been coming to the school and taking him out to lunch and bringing him back late, without my husband's knowledge.


Asked on 2/13/04, 6:30 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

Re: What are our rights

This situation can best be addressed by seeking psychological counseling for your stepson, with participation by his father. You didn't say specifically what you want to do from a legal standpoint, and I don't know that there's much you can do. The mother is entitled to see her son unless there's evidence of physical abuse during visitations. She's also a joint legal custodian, which means she can participate in important decisions regarding the child's education, health, etc.

Perhaps you and your husband could have a talk with the child to try and clear the air about your role in his life, emphasizing that you're not trying to replace his mother, but that you want to pay an important role in his life.

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Answered on 2/13/04, 10:00 am


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