EMILY 21

[survivinginchicago]

Sometimes it helps to ask for a supervisor when dealing with social services... try to get back to the operator, ask if there's anyone else in the office, anything to get to a human. Pretend you're a first time caller, etc.

And if you are thinking about moving, have it written into the custody agreement. You can do that. I don't know what the laws are in PA but usually with joint custody you cannot leave the state, unless you make it part of the custody terms.

However, in your case, I don't see your H putting up much of a fight.

I keep forgetting to add:

If you haven't already, you should start documenting everything with dates. The date he last gave you money for the girls. The date he changed his phone number, leaving you no way to contact him. Once you start writing these things down, it will help just to see it in black and white. In legal matters, you have to take all the emotion out of it.

And am I correct in thinking you don't know his actual address? If you don't, then you can't let him take the girls without it. I know in my state, anyway, they would actually see that as a mark against YOU, not him, if you don't know where he lives and you released the kids to his care for a visit.