Focus on me and my boys

[Painter]

Jim, I didn't mean to make a request of OW. I meant to inform her what will happen if she doesn't return the clothes. But before that, you also need to weigh what the cost of the L is vs. the cost of replacing the clothes once you have the key to your own place where OW does not have access unsupervised. The L's motion may cost more than the clothes, and there's the risk of you looking petty in court. But document it and present it at the appropriate time. Make sure this L doesn't take advantage and files motions about anything and everything to bolster the bill. You can include the return of the clothes in the custody decision - this is not unusual, that once custody is resolved, there's wording included about the children's posessions.

Is your L worried and thinks it's a real risk that a judge will let W take the kids out of the country? Is she Canadian? Are the kids Canadian citizens? I hear your worry and defeat - I don't think you have to be too concerned. Judges normally do not let one parent take the children out of the state or country, unless the other parent is deemed unfit. Is there any risk for you to be deemed unfit?

I think maybe your W is throwing you off with her confidence. Her confidence could be completely off - what she is trying to achieve, is highly unlikely.

Do you have a plan for taking care of the children? Are you already involved in their day to day care? Do you have backup for when you are at work? Can you manage without OW? Do you have someone lined up for when the kids need to be picked up/come with the bus until you come home from work? Those are the things you need to worry about - not what happens *if* a judge makes a highly unusual decision.

That's what judges look at, not the size of your house. Don't even bother to compare. And stop putting yourself down - you don't know what you'll be able to afford down the road.