Does anyone have an idea about the success rate for men in child custody battles in colorado? I would like to have an idea about my chances of success. My wife has said that if I divorce her, she will take the child and just dissappear. She has done this before. Her visa expired and she went into hiding from the INS for 6 months. Later she decided that htey were not looking for her very hard and then returned.

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2000

Answers

I'm not sure. You can contact the www.dvmen.com (I think) site -- they're based out of Colorado.

I seem to remember hearing that men win about 20% of the time. However, planning things out carefully and having a good lawyer can certainly make a big difference, and I'm not at all certain that those stats are correct.

Consider joining the safe-support group. People there might be able to advise you. Directions are on the safe4all.org website.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2000

UNFORTUNATELY, THE COURTS DON'T LEAN TOWARDS GIVING CUSTODY TO THE FATHER UNLESS THE OTHER HAS SERIOUS ISSUES AND EVEN THEN YOU REALLY HAVE TO PROVE EVERY THING. SHE WILL TAKE THE CHILD AND YOU MIGHT NEVER SEE HER AGAIN. I WOULD JUST STAY WITH HER IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD. THE COURT SYSTEM IS REALLY BAD.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2002

I disagree. Stay with her? Why in the world would you stay with someone that isn't stable(makes threats like that), let alone why would you want your child exposed to someone like that? That's a poor excuse to stay Stephanie.

Bill, you may have a good chance. Why not just get the INS involved? If all else fails, remove yourself and your child from there, cut off all contact with her, protect your assets and file for divorce. The courts show alot of consideration towards whoever the child is living with at the time of the hearings.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2002

I did not mean to say stay with her. You should not stay with someone if you are not happy. What I mean't to say is that the courts do not lean in favor of the fathers. I am really not sure what to do in your circumstances. I did not mean to affend anyone.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2003