Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

My 5 year old granddaughter went on her first 8 hr visitation with her father today (after completing 24 2hr court-ordered Sat visits (took him a year. This begins phase 2 of 3.)He does not pay court-ordered child support. He told her in our presence (it is recorded) that he is keeping that money to spend on her so that he knows the money is being used on her. As soon as she got into the car today she informed us that he told her that if anyone spanks her, she is to call 911. We are furious! This child is NOT abused! She is smart, funny, out-going...the only issues she's had had to do with his not being in the picture for 2 years ("my daddy loved me when I was a baby"). Now he's playing these manipulative games with her, as he did her mother, whom he abused, although the police were never called-you know how it goes....! He's telling her that his home is better, his city is better, making up stories about their relationship when she was a baby-how she adored him, etc. What can we do to stop this nonsense?! My daughter has done everything she can do through the AG's office. Can she tell him he can't see her if he's going to be putting these ideas in her head and tell him to get himself an attorney-see you in court kind of thing? We've been ultra-compliant and have followed the court-orders and are tired of these mind games.


Asked on 3/02/13, 5:02 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Thomas Daley KoonsFuller PC

The child support issue creates a right for your daughter to file an enforcement action. Maybe that would shut him up.

Otherwise, don't make a bigger deal out of this than it is. Stop being "Furious"--that doesn't help anyone. If she wants to love her daddy, why not let her. She'll know the whole truth about who loves her in the fullness of time. But if you're stomping around "furious" over his representations, you might help him prove his crazy point.

Point out to her that he may live in a great town, but she does too. And if she seems too confused, get her some counseling. There is no legal action you can take to make him stop telling her she used to live him or that his town is better.

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Answered on 3/07/13, 1:03 pm


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