How can I get my children's possessions out of non-custodial parent's storage unit? (method, custody)
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In May 2016 I was granted sole legal and physical custody of our children. Previously, my ex had primary. When custody transferred, the kids were literally dropped off with the clothes on their backs. My ex put virtually everything in a storage unit and moved 4 hours a way. I believe that the unit contains not only gifts and other belongings of the children, some with great sentimental value, but legal documents (ssn cards, birth certs, etc) and financial instruments (savings bonds). He refuses to return anything. The unit is now up for auction b/c he hasn't paid the rent since September. I sent a letter to the facility stating I have a claim to my children's belongings (they are 9 and 8 years old), but do I have any legal recourse to get their things out before they're sold at auction? These things belong to the children, not their father. I have replaced the legal docs, but those things are certainly not something I want in anyone else's possession! TIA!
Did you just go to the storage facility, offer to pay the back rent in exchange for the contents? Might not be legal but it would save you a lot of money.
Did you just go to the storage facility, offer to pay the back rent in exchange for the contents? Might not be legal but it would save you a lot of money.
I agree. Why didn't you just suck up the cost to pay for the unit? I understand that out of principle you probably don't want to do that, but that's the cheapest way to get your stuff, probably.
Pay the storage fee and all back charges or win the contents of the unit at auction and in the future let your ex see his kids more so he doesn't feel so resentful that he resorts to such petty methods of exerting some semblance of control in his relationship with his children. Maybe instead of switching back and forth between one parent having primary custody and the other, you can have a more equitable shared arrangement that inspires more cooperation.
Another option would be to offer to buy the non-vaulable things form the purchaser, or just offer not to go get an injunction for all the things if they give you the non-valuable things.
Don't go tell the storage place who you are, or why you want the contents of the unit. Just go to the unit and bid on the contents, or better yet, have someone else bid on the contents if the storage facility knows who you are.
But really, the kids have probably moved on beyond the contents of the unit. You have replaced the SS cards and birth certificates. Is there really anything in there that you HAVE to have, or is this just another way to keep the battle going? Move on.
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