Filings, judges and courts....oh my!

Well, it's officially official. I signed papers yesterday and today my divorce petition was filed. Gary will be served sometime this week. 2 weeks ago, I filed for a Protective Order (and got it) based on his idiot comments/threats and a general concern for the safety of my family. We've had a long and rocky 13 years (probably mentioned somewhere previously) and when separated before, there was a threat of him taking my girls, an evening of holding my breath and the final return of my girls. So this was noted on my request and the order essentially tells him that it is illegal now for him to do that. Without that order, it would have been perfectly legal since they are his also and nothing had been filed for custody or visitation. FYI for anyone considering a "friendly separation" with children. There is nothing preventing either parent from having physical custody until something is filed in court regarding that issue. And interestingly enough, child support doesn't start from the date of separation. Only from start of court filings. Here. Best check your state's laws.

And then there is the hearing scheduled for Friday. It is related to the Protective Order. Child support, visitation and physical custody will be established here. It's a funny thing.....while married, Gary was highly critical of my ex and how visitation and child support was handled. He wouldn't need a piece of paper to tell him what was right. He wouldn't make it about any issues between the mother and father--he would do what was right for the children. He was just as critical of his ex wife's ex and how he handled himself. And yet, here he is--living with his mother (read: no living expenses), hardly ever seeing the girls (who are most definitely daddy's girls) and certainly not contributing a dime towards child support. So, we are going to get a piece of paper to tell him what the right thing to do is. I never thought that I would be here ....

But it is most definitely time to not just end a chapter, but slam the whole damned book shut! Time for a brand new book. Taking ideas on working title now! And for now, just wish me luck in helping another 2 children adjust to life interrupted and future rerouted.