Hi all my beautiful sisters. I'm a mother of one gorgeous 10.5 year old girl and have been raising her solo since she was a baby. Her father had 2 older children at the time, and has since had a fourth to someone else. He also has schizophrenia. And was very violent and paranoid in the lead up to our split.
We went through the court process as a baby , father had supervised visits at a contact centre once a fortnight for approx 8 months. He then couldn't "afford" the $50 fee and requested more time at home. We went back to court and over a 2 year period it was slowly increased from 2 hourly visits a few times a week until he got her for a weekend.
He had two overnights before he got violent with her and the other children. I refused access as she was terrified and the older children were also scared for her. She ended up going through child counsellor a to make her sleep again and deal with what she had endured and didn't wish to see him again. The court at the time said to father, he needed to pay for sessions with my daughters counsellor and when she felt ready slowly reintroduce the two of them.
He refused. So he hasn't seen her now for 8 years.
The court order however, still states two afternoons a week and every 2nd sat night.
She still remembers what happend to her, and is begging to change her surname to mine. I want to take her overseas but need his approval for passport. I recieve no child support and have run a business and raised her on my own.
His other older children are now grown up and don't have a relationship with him, and the littlest he's only met once.
Every bit of advice I've had has been if I try to change orders, her name etc, the court will enforce a relationship between them. Is this the case? I don't know what to do to remove him as he's not made an effort anyway.
Has anyone had a similar situation that can offer advice?
What to do?? Father is schizophrenic
What to do?? Father is schizophrenic
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Relationships & Marriage, Mental Health, Parenthood Guilt, Kids, IM's In Business
2 Replies
Only take legal advice in this circumstance. It is too important to take the advice of an unqualified mothers group
You need legal advice.
As far as i know if there is a history of violence and there is evidence from the physiological professionals and police then it is unlikely he would see her alone within his house. It would go back to supervised. Just hope he does not want to pay the $50 again.