Request for Order – Child Custody/Visitation
Petitioner (Mother) filed a Request for Order (RFO) on April 27, 2026 for: (1) modification of Custody and Visitation of the parties’ child, Mark (DOB 08/28/2014), (2) modification of Child Support, (3) an EC §730/ FC §3111 custody evaluation, (5) therapy/reunification therapy, and (6) non-interference with court orders.
The parties share joint legal custody per a mediated custody agreement filed on 06/30/2025 with Mark primarily living with Respondent (Father).
Child Custody and Visitation/Custody Evaluation
The parties were referred to Family Court Services (FCS), which provided a comprehensive support and plan. FCS does not believe a custody evaluation is necessary at this point, and the Court agrees. Instead, Mother must do the hard work of re-connecting with Mark and meeting him where he is at this point.
The Court finds it is in the best interest of the Child to adopt the FCS recommendation as modified herein:
1. Sole physical custody to Father.
2. Sole legal custody to Father until further court order. Mother shall still have access to medical and educational records for Mark, but Father shall have authority to unilaterally make legal custody decisions. Father shall inform Mother when such decisions are made.
3. Mother shall take a parenting class focused on preteen boys.
4. Mother shall take a class to learn about how to best support children following separation/divorce.
5. After Mother has completed a parenting class and a class to learn about how to best support children of separated parents, Mother and Mark shall participate in a minimum of six sessions of reunification therapy/family therapy to work on their relationship with the goal of helping Mark become more comfortable with visiting and spending time with Mother. Father shall participate in the family therapy/reunification therapy at the discretion of the therapist including providing background information from his perspective. A copy of this FCS report shall be released and provided to the reunification/family therapist. Reunification/family therapy shall not commence until Mother has provided Father with verification that she has completed the parenting class and the class for children of divorce as specified in paragraphs 3 and 4.
6. After three sessions of family therapy, Mother shall have a one-hour supervised visit with Mark once a week. The visits shall be supervised by a parenting coach who shall observe the visits and shall work with Mother following the visits to help improve her parenting skills. The parenting coach shall intervene during the visit if needed per the guidelines followed by supervised visitation providers.
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7. There shall be a minimum of six supervised visits to be supervised by a parenting coach. Visits shall then transition to unsupervised visits for a minimum of one hour per visit each week. If Mark wishes to visit with Mother longer, he shall be permitted to do so. Mark shall participate in at least four unsupervised visits. Mark shall have permission to leave the visit early by calling Father if Mother is not comporting herself in an appropriate manner and Mark is not comfortable continuing with the visit. If after these four unsupervised visits Mark does not wish to continue to visit with Mother, he shall not be mandated to do so.
8. Mother shall not denigrate Father to Mark. Failure to comply with this provision shall result in suspension of Mother’s visits with Mark.
9. Mark may have video or phone contact with Mother whenever he wishes. Calls shall be monitored by Father until such time that visits have transitioned to unsupervised visits. Father shall end any calls in which Mother is engaging in inappropriate communications with Mark.
10. Mother shall not visit Mark at his school and shall not show up unannounced at school during the school day. Mother may attend school events where parents are invited to attend.
11. Mark shall not be shown a copy of the FCS report. Parents shall not interrogate Mark regarding his interview with FCS, nor shall he be made to suffer emotional retaliation for what he reported during his interview.
All prior orders not in conflict with these orders shall remain in effect.
Child Support
Mother requests modification of her child support obligation. Father has requested a modification to his spousal support obligation, and that matter will be heard June 30, 2026.
Mother also has a separate RFO to be heard June 30, 2026, that requests reimbursement for expenses she incurred to travel to Belarus to investigate Father’s income sources. Since all these matters are connected, Mother’s request for modification of child support is CONTINUED to June 20, 2026.
Other Issues
Mother has an RFO set for July 7, 2026, requesting compensation for health issues and an RFO set for July 21, 2026, requesting reimbursement of community property. Mother’s RFO currently set for July 7 is continued to July 21, 2026, and all briefing dates are re-set accordingly. Counsel for Father is to prepare the formal Findings and Order After Hearing.