I’m dealing with a custody case in Clallam County, and the family law judge took my son away. The judge’s memo and opinion are confusing. I can’t tell if she’s referring to 3G as written or 3B. The memo makes it seem like I’m being portrayed as a stalker, which isn’t true. I feel like I’m being made the scapegoat. My ex has been withholding visitation for two months and blocking communication. I’m concerned he’s manipulating my son, and now the judge’s decision doesn’t seem to reflect the real situation. Does anyone have experience with this? What should I do?
I’m sorry to hear you’re going through this. From what you’ve described, it sounds like the judge may be citing 3G as the primary factor, which refers to ‘other factors or conduct adverse to the child’s best interests.’ But the judge could also be incorporating elements of 3B or 3E, which involve conflict and manipulation. I’d recommend speaking to a lawyer about how to interpret the judge’s memo more clearly.
@Uma
Thank you! I’m just so confused about how the judge is reading this. I’ve never harmed my son, but now everything is twisted against me.
Nico said:
@Uma
Thank you! I’m just so confused about how the judge is reading this. I’ve never harmed my son, but now everything is twisted against me.
It sounds like there’s a lot of conflicting information. If you believe the judge has misunderstood or misinterpreted the facts, you might want to consider appealing the decision or filing for a modification. It could also help to have a lawyer review the full memo and opinion to see if any errors were made.
From your description, it sounds like your ex may be alienating your son, which can be very damaging and often difficult to prove in court. If the judge has taken away custody based on misinterpretations or unsupported allegations, you should definitely look into appealing the decision. It may also help to document everything that’s happening with your ex and your son, especially incidents like the one where your son falsely accused you of choking him.
@Bao
That’s exactly what I’m worried about—my son is being manipulated. It’s like he’s been turned against me, and the court isn’t seeing the whole picture.
I agree with the others. It sounds like the judge is referencing several factors, including 3G, which covers anything adverse to the child’s best interests. The confusion might come from the way the opinion is written, but if you believe the evidence isn’t being weighed correctly, appealing or asking for a reconsideration could be your next steps.
@Finley
Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve been feeling like the whole process is stacked against me. I’ll look into appealing.
It’s really important to get legal advice when a decision like this is based on multiple factors. If the judge is citing 3G and possibly also 3B or 3E, you need to make sure the evidence is properly addressed in court. A lawyer can help you figure out if there’s enough to appeal the decision or ask for a modification.
@Noor
I definitely need to talk to someone. This whole thing feels so unfair, and I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to fight for my son.