Custody Dispute Resolution Advice

Summary

The user is a single mother in Merrill, WI, who is facing issues with her ex-partner and his girlfriend overstepping their boundaries in their sons life. She has 50/50 custody with her ex-partner, but his girlfriend is taking over most of the parenting roles during his parenting time. The user has documented these incidents and has tried to address the issue with her ex-partner and the daycare provider. She has considered filing a modification of custody order and seeking a court order to define the role of her exs girlfriend in her sons life. She has evidence in the form of text messages to support her claim. She is considering seeking legal action but is unsure of where to start.

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Hello, I am a 28 year old single mother living in Merrill WI, and the father of my 2 year old son and I have not been together since before he was born. I'm seeking help because he is running my life as we currently have */* custody and it's been nothing but issues. Anytime I do anything he doesn't like he threatens to take me to court and is trying to get his lawyer to take his case to try for full custody for no reason. But the main issue I'm having is his girlfriend. She does most of the parenting roles during his parenting time it's come to the point where I don't exist. I go into gas stations and the clerk tells me about how she's bad mouthing me around town and even the daycare provider calls her and my son's father and doesn't even communicate with me for instance if out son gets hurt she calls them not me or one day he needed to be picked up early the daycare provider called his girlfriend to leave early from work to come get our son and I never got a phone call once. They cut me out completely and my ex even went as far as telling me how she gets him to eat she disciplines our son picks him up and drops him off at daycare every day and it's emotionally exhausting but he sees no problem with it. But as soon as I meet any body he don't like it and threatens court and to try and take my son away from me but I want to know if there's any way I can legally do anything about his girlfriend raising our son because it's not right and my words and wishes mean nothing to them. Thank you
Have you documented these incidents and have you discussed this issue with your ex-partner?
Yes and yes it's happening everytime our son's by his dad
What is the current custody agreement you have with your ex-partner?
*/*
What is the specific role of his girlfriend in your son's life as per the custody agreement?
Only me and the sons father are in the custody agreement she's just his girlfriend she has no role but is taking over all the roles
What actions have you taken so far to address this issue legally?
None because I can't afford a lawyer and don't know where to start or know if I can even legally make this stop some how
Have you considered seeking help from a legal aid service or a pro bono lawyer in Merrill, WI? They can provide free or low-cost legal assistance.
I applied for legal aid did not qualify
What was the reason given for not qualifying for legal aid?
They sent me a letter saying sorry they couldn't take my case they can't accept every seeking assistance so they decided to not pick my case up
Have you tried reaching out to any other legal aid services or pro bono lawyers in your area?
No I have not. Anytime I do or say anything to my ex he doesn't like hearing he just threatens to take me to court for full custody
What is the nature of the threats your ex-partner is making? Are they verbal, written, or both?
Just verbal for example if I take our son anywhere he doesn't want me to hell tell me he will "make the call" meaning to social services for no reason or tell me he's gonna take me back to court for custody and even our daycare provider acts like my ex and his girlfriend are the parents and I don't exist I don't get any updates like they do she doesn't keep in contact with me like she does them she's even called my exes girlfriend to come get my son from daycare one day and I never even got a call or anything. But if I pull him out of daycare my ex again says he's gonna just take me to court and it scares me to where I do nothing about it because he has a good lawyer and I have nobody but me
Have you considered filing a complaint with the daycare for not communicating with you about your son's activities and well-being?
I have i have spoke to her about it and my ex and she communicated for about a week or * and that's it
What was the outcome of your conversation with the daycare provider? Did they provide any reasons for their actions?
No there was no reason provided and it seemed to help things for a bit but went back to the usual
What steps have you taken to document these incidents, especially the threats from your ex-partner? This could be crucial for any legal proceedings.
I have documented everything I possibly could since the day our son was born
What is the nature of the documents you have? Are they text messages, emails, or written notes?
Alot of written I began saving all texts exchanged between us but I have every incident written in a calendar book for which each even took place due to some things being verbal I do also have saved all my texts between me and the daycare provider
What actions does your ex's girlfriend take that you believe overstep her boundaries?
She picks him up from and takes him to daycare she disciplines our child, the daycare called her and not me to where she came and picked our son up from daycare and took him to work with her. And for example my ex and I went to a doctor appointment for our son and I told my son we don't stand on chairs please sit as he was standing on a chair trying to see out of the window and my ex looks at me and says "that's my girlfriends fault he does that she believes you need to teach your kids how to do dangerous things safely and I just can't get her to stop sometimes" or during exchange he's had me meet her to get our son multiple times he wasn't with and I walk into a gas station where I live and the clerk is telling me about how she's coming in there talking me down and all that kinda stuff. I've been so lenient when it comes to things they plan his birthday each year and get invited to it I've said nothing trying to keep the peace never being a part of planning it. For his baptism him and his girlfriend planned it I got invited to it, I voiced that I wanted to be a part of everything and it didn't matter he even contacted my family and picked sponsors on my behalf. He was not even there for the birth and only came to one appointment I still did everything and all paperwork as if he was right there I let him take him when he asks for events I've been doing nothing but giving him what he wants and maybe that was my mistake because I didn't want to have conflict but now it's just become too much and his girlfriend is playing mom and I can't handle it
Have you considered filing a modification of custody order based on the change in circumstances? In Wisconsin, courts may modify an existing order if it's in the best interest of the child.
I have but I'm not trying to change custody he needs us both and our agreement is a fitting schedule it's just she feels the need to take over EVERYTHING and no matter what the custody order is everytime he goes to his dad's house she's gonna continue doing these things
What specific changes would you like to see in your ex-partner's girlfriend's involvement with your son?
If it were up to me I don't even want her around him because he's only * and it has to be confusing to him right now as to who's who, but I know that can't happen I don't mind him involving other people in our son's life but I am sick of her taking the whole parenting role I want him to be the parent like he's suppose to be she does most of the parenting and I don't wanna be cut out of everything they want it to be just them and my son and me not in the picture at all and I've done nothing but held my composure and smiled while taking whatever they throw my way cuz I'm not trying to have conflict but there's gotta be a line somewhere because nothing I say or anything I feel about any situation matters when I'm not even getting calls from daycare if my son needs to be picked up or if he gets injured but my exes girlfriend is and even going as far as taking him to work with her that's not okay especially when I never once got called
Have you considered seeking a court order to define the role of your ex's girlfriend in your son's life?

In Wisconsin, courts generally prioritize the best interest of the child. If you can demonstrate that the current situation is causing confusion or harm to your child, the court may consider your request.
I have considered these things I just wasn't sure how to go about it. It's draining because I am sick of feeling like I'm cut out and not even his mother because I'm left out of everything
What evidence do you have to support your claim that your ex's girlfriend is overstepping her boundaries and causing confusion or harm to your child?
Text messages for example him telling me how she does things with our son how she takes him to and from daycare texts how daycare called and she had to go get our son and take him to her work yet I was never called to come get him stuff like that
What is the name and contact details of the daycare center? This information could be useful if you decide to take legal action.
Her name is Rebeccan Johnson, I'll have to look up her info I have in my phone she does in home she's been doing it for many years she is actually my exes best friends cousin
What is the exact location of the daycare center? This information could be useful if you decide to take legal action.
N2599 Barnes Creek Ave Merrill WI *
What is the name of your ex-partner's girlfriend? This information could be useful if you decide to take legal action.
Heather Krzanowski
What is the nature of the relationship between your ex-partner's girlfriend and your son? Does she act more like a parent or a friend to him?
Parent and I'm not *% the nature of the relationship all I know is she thinks she's mom
What is your son's reaction to his father's girlfriend? Does he seem confused or distressed?
I know everytime I turn on the road for daycare he starts acting out crying and not wanting to go and when my ex and her pick him up or I go to drop him off by them he tries to stay with me and don't wanna go
What is your son's behavior like when he returns from his father's house?
It varies sometimes good sometimes a typical 2 year old he has to have me in his line of site at all times I can't walk away from him he's right stuck to my hip and attached */* never wants to leave my side
What is the name of your ex-partner and his lawyer? This information could be useful if you decide to take legal action.
I can't remember the name of his lawyer exactly but his name is Billy Crane
What is the full name of your ex-partner?
Billy Joel Crane
What is the contact information of Billy Joel Crane's lawyer?
I'm not sure I don't have that information in front of me at the moment
Can you provide any instances where your son's behavior has changed negatively after spending time with his father and his girlfriend?
A couple times he has come back pinching and hitting where he didn't do that ever before and stuff like that
What steps have you taken to address these behavioral changes with your ex-partner and his girlfriend?
I have addressed it and spoke to my ex about it and he tells me it's because of us splitting custody and I should just let him have custody on all week days and I should just have him every other weekend that would fix his behavior issues. And any decision made about our son he has to run everything by his girlfriend and okay everything with her even if it comes down to having him pick out son up he has to talk to her and make sure it's okay he takes his own son on days he wasn't scheduled to have him.
What is your ex-partner's response when you express your concerns about his girlfriend's involvement in your son's life?
Nothing she just kinda smirks and continues on with whatever they do. It's like I'm not even herd and of I am they don't care about anything I say or feel anyways. Like I'm not capable or able to make decisions for my child
Have you considered seeking a court order to limit the girlfriend's involvement in your son's life? In Wisconsin, courts prioritize the child's best interest. If you can prove her involvement is harmful, they may consider your request.
Yes I have thought about a court order. But I don't know where to begin so I started off here to find out if I'm just thinking about it too much or if I have a right to feel the way I do and am able to legally do anything about it in the first place before I try
What specific actions or changes would you like to see implemented regarding your ex's girlfriend's involvement with your son?
I simply want our son's dad to be the parent like he should be. He should be dropping him off and picking him up from daycare, he shouldn't send her to meet me with our child, and mainly she shouldn't be receiving any phone calls from anywhere about our son or taking him to work with her when I didn't even get notified I don't even want her in my son's life but I can't control that fully I've tried accepting it and I'm fine with it until I'm cut out of things and she took my place she's not mom she is being treated as she is tho. My ex even told me for his painting business that I shouldn't come to his job site while his customers are around because he doesn't tell his customers our son's not heathers because people have opinions and he doesn't want them to view him differently and not get paid for the job at one point. He's literally letting people believe he is hers and even telling me this
What is the name and contact details of your ex-partner's lawyer?