advice needed...

Each atate is different but he cannot keep her against her will in any state. I think the only thing he can really do is drag this out for a long time. The only thing that usually does is make the lawyers more money.

There are easy D's and Hard D's (the kind that cause problems.....forever). I think you can guess which kind this is shaping up to be........plus custody

He just today said he will let her go, but under conditions...he wants to move back to his home town (across the country), and he wants 50/50 custody. I find this to be a tad bit of blackmail.

It went great...had a great time. Just got back yesterday. Can't believe how big we've spent in FA. Thought we didn't have much room to mess with, but I was wrong.

After we got back, Julia's husband is refusing to let her go...said won't sign divorce papers etc. Can he actually do that? In NM, after a certain time frame, it becomes a divorce by default, in CA I am not so sure. How is this in other states? Does anyone know?Just one quick question. Did Julia go with you?

He just today said he will let her go, but under conditions...he wants to move back to his home town (across the country), and he wants 50/50 custody. I find this to be a tad bit of blackmail.
Why blackmail? They have kids together so he should have his share in time with them. If he is going to move across the country a judge might give him rights but it will be limited to whats in the best interest of the children. I had 50/50 custody with my X and she got our daughter evey other weekend and other reasonable visitation. For example on a school night she wants to take our daughter to dinner I had the final say so as long as I used reasonable judgement. Yes she can go to dinner if she had done all her homework or No, she has a big test tomorrow. We got along so we did not try to get at each other by using the kids as a prop. Thats the most important thing is not to drag the kids into this fight. If that happens it can get very nasty and everyone will loose.

He just today said he will let her go, but under conditions...he wants to move back to his home town (across the country), and he wants 50/50 custody. I find this to be a tad bit of blackmail.
It's really a negotiation kind of thing....but it feels Blackmaily. Each side tries to cut the best deal. Be careful who pays transportation to and from the opposite coast......how many times a year.
AND.....First is right....keep the kids out of it as much as possible

Why blackmail? They have kids together so he should have his share in time with them. If he is going to move across the country a judge might give him rights but it will be limited to whats in the best interest of the children. I had 50/50 custody with my X and she got our daughter evey other weekend and other reasonable visitation. For example on a school night she wants to take our daughter to dinner I had the final say so as long as I used reasonable judgement. Yes she can go to dinner if she had done all her homework or No, she has a big test tomorrow. We got along so we did not try to get at each other by using the kids as a prop. Thats the most important thing is not to drag the kids into this fight. If that happens it can get very nasty and everyone will loose.

This really goes back to the "are you sure you understand?" type questions that were asked earlier. These kids are going to now have their father across the country from them. and you are looking at it as blackmail. The kids certainly won't, they will wonder why their mom and dad can't be together. They will get shuffled between school systems. But you think he is blackmailing you. Sorry, but he did not end the relationship, she did, and you merely added fire to the break up. A court could very well rule in his favor, or in hers, but they will always consider the kids interests (from the state's point of view - meaning dss could interject or they could have their own state appointed CASA lawyer) first.
Again, it's not blackmail, it's divorce with kids, and its hard to find anyone who is a winner, especially if the adults see (or use without seeing) the kids as hostages/bargaining chips/property.

--Getting along, like FD did :goodjob:, is probably more important after a divorce then during the marriage.

Have you consider the logistics of this at all? Say everything works out and you are spooning Julia Guila every night in your little love nest. Have you thought about what it is like to live with and raise children? It is probably the largest resopinisibilty you can take on as a human. My wife and I had our son 11 months ago and our lives easily did a 180 (if not a 720 but we never returned to the same postition). I know her kids are not infants but it is going to be a huge adjustment for you.

I would say run free find another fish in the sea. At some point the lovey dovey part is going to wash off between you and Julia Gulia and the reality of the stituation is going to hit you like a ton of bricks.

I can picture you now standing in a trailer's kitchen holding a sippy cup and wondering what the hell happen to my life, as the kids are screaming and running all around you.

At some point the lovey dovey part is going to wash off between you and Julia Gulia and the reality of the stituation is going to hit you like a ton of bricks.


You are correct. I feel sorry for the OP. In his opening post, he acknowledged that what he was doing was wrong, but he ignored his conscience and his better judgement and went with his heart. He's reaping the sad consequences of his actions now. What hes going through is nothing compared to what those poor kids are going through though. They are the victims of two (or maybe even three) very selfish people. Its horrible.

This really goes back to the "are you sure you understand?" type questions that were asked earlier. These kids are going to now have their father across the country from them. and you are looking at it as blackmail. The kids certainly won't, they will wonder why their mom and dad can't be together. They will get shuffled between school systems. But you think he is blackmailing you. Sorry, but he did not end the relationship, she did, and you merely added fire to the break up. A court could very well rule in his favor, or in hers, but they will always consider the kids interests (from the state's point of view - meaning dss could interject or they could have their own state appointed CASA lawyer) first.
Again, it's not blackmail, it's divorce with kids, and its hard to find anyone who is a winner, especially if the adults see (or use without seeing) the kids as hostages/bargaining chips/property.

--Getting along, like FD did :goodjob:, is probably more important after a divorce then during the marriage.

I guess it is more of negotiation than blackmail, but to say i'll let you go if you give me 50/50, otherwise I won't certainly sounds blackmailish to me. Oh well. I do not want to keep the kids from him, he is the father.
The daughter likes me a lot, we have a lot of fun together and she doesn't really miss her father when she's not around him. The younger son absolutely loves me. He cries when I leave, and that breaks my heart. Their father just doesn't spend time with them, and give them attention / love, so to have an active male / father figure in their lives is something they have been craving and are now getting. The kids just aren't suffering right now at all. They are happier and now that they have that desired attention they are behaving better too. No matter what I can never replace their biological father, nor do I want to try to. I hope he remains an active part of their life. Don't really know how this is going to pan out considering he will be so far away, but I am sure we can work something out. 50/50 will not be an option. Maybe 70/30 or something where he gets them in the summers, and we get them during the school season etc.

About running and finding another fish in the sea. That won't happen. I've already had the chance to find other fish in the sea, I want this fish. I have always wanted her, and always will regardless of circumstance. I am not some 21 year old that doesn't know what love is, and hasn't come to reality with my emotions / feelings. I am happier now than I have ever been even with the kids. I love those kids, and we have a great time together. I don't expect others to understand cause this is a unique scenario. Which is no big deal, just know that in terms of being with her, we both know what we are doing, and the possible consequences...we are willing to take those chances. The kids are the utmost priority to us, and their well being is more important than anything. In terms of how this will all play out, that's still up in the air.