Custody Of Wifes Children Any Similar Experiences?

[Cassidy700]

I was just wondering if anyone can give me advice on this matter, maybe they have been through a similar experience with their wife.

Basically I am married to Thai wife and we both live in Jersey, UK, she is on a two year visa, and has been here for a year, all is fine apart from that she has two young girls who are going to be four and seven this year.

After his constant womanising and being beaten up she left her previous partner about four years ago, and he done one with the kids, he hasnt let her make any contact, we have tried approach of going through people over time to see if he would at least let us see the kids when we have been to thailand, but he wont, so last time we went we got a lawyer paid 10,000 upfront for him to sort out all the documentation and then further 10,000 at the family court in pitsanulok.

There for ages but to our distress nothing was going to happen at this time, we then returned two days later on the 29th November 2007, where my wife spoke to a official in the family section explained about what he did to her before, and as we had managed to track down where they are staying, what sort of conditions the kids stay in, next to snooker room next to bedroom, people drinking etc, the official agreed to send someone to check this out.

They also made an appointment for us to attend court on the 4th March in 2008, so a letter has been sent to ex before informing him that we are taking him to court where a decision will be made on custody of the children.Our lawyer says because of the conditions they stay in and she is the mother we have a very good chance of winning, does this sound right?

Our lawyer has now informed us that on the 12th February he has made appointment at the court, probabley because he knows we are not in thailand and wouldnt be able to make it then, however our lawyer has told us that because we signed the documentation for him to represent us, it is necessary that he attends the court on our behalf and speak on our behalf.He has charged 10,000 for this, with a further 5,000 when we go to court on the 4th March.He has said that if we win then that will be that, no appeal scenarios.

Im unfamilar with lawyer charges, does this sound about right?Also I am unfamilar with thai law, we have asked him to attend court on the 4th March, as the father he made an appointment before this time when we are not in thailand, right? seems unfair that this can be done, lawyer said better he go to represent us or it could go against us when we attend court on the 4th March.We have also had a report back from the court official who agreed the conditions were bad.

Has anyone else had or is having any similar experience regarding their thai wifes kids?

If every goes right and we win and get all the documentation for custody, I will be able to see my step daughters for the first time!!!

We want to bring them to live with us in Jersey, the only worry is that they would have to go and stay with her parents until this is possible.In December she would have been here 2 years, so we will have apply for a longterm visa which shouldt be a problem, however would we have to wait until we have a longterm visa before we begin the visa process for bringing the kids here?The reason I ask is that we want to be together as a family as soon as possible but also because it is always a worry that maybe he may try to snatch them back.

[torrenova]

Don't know but your lawyer does seem to like the figure Bt10,000 a lot !

I reckon her ex is probably holding out for some payment from you / her to effectively buy the kids. This might be an easier solution than keeping on giving this lawyer 10k each time he demande it. Figures sound very high to me.