Father Rights Canada / as a father I have no rights and a up hill battle all the way

My ex is a alcoholic. In October I got her out of the house in Fort Saskatchewan because of her drinking was getting really bad. I was working out of town and she’ll leave our 2 sons, age 12&14, alone every weekend to go out drinking. This has been going on a for years and we’ve had numerous times we’ve split up because of it. I couldn’t keep this going so lined up a nanny to watch boys while I was out of town. My sons also were tired of it. She talked to me saying she sorry she’ll never do it again. She’ll quit drinking and move back in separate rooms and be there just for the boys. If she wants to drink she’ll leave the house when I’m home on my days off. She’s promised this before so I talked to the boys and they agreed we’ll give it a try. Well it didn’t last long that first weekend she was gone out again. I knew I made a mistake. I worked a 20 on 8 off schedule at the time. The last weekend before I came home she left for 4 days. The boys were home alone.

I was very upset on what she did. I text her what’s going on. You promised you’ll be there for the boys. Her excuse was you said I couldn’t bring my boyfriend over. I couldn’t believe it. She has had affairs in the past but I couldn’t believe she’ll just leave our kids like that for some guy. She said she was seeing this guy for months. I didn’t want to talk to her anymore and said to leave me alone and I’ll see her Friday when I get home. I had a nanny lined up again and wanted her out of the house.

When I got home that Friday I told her she had to leave as I needed the room for a nanny. She said no you got to leave and left the house. About 60 minutes later the RCMP showed up and served me with a EPO. She went to a advocacy group and used parts of my text to get it. This was November 10, 2017. It covered her, the house and the boys. My sons were pretty upset.

I got a lawyer and he said it was the weakest and shortest EPO he’s seen. Almost like the peace officer taking the statement was leading her through the affidavit. We went to the review and the judge put it to a hearing on January 19, 2018. At the hearing she was able to get a adjournment to the 16th of March because she wasn’t able to get legal representation yet. We were able to get the boy taken off the EPO. After talking to my sons they said there mom stopped drinking for a couple weeks but started again and they didn’t want to be at the house with her anymore. So on January 26 with the help of a friend going to the house with the boys they moved out. Her drinking has been going on for years and they had enough of her lies.

During this time I continued to pay all the household bills except for the utility bill in December and mortgage since November. The house is in my name and wasn’t going to pay for her party house with her boyfriend. I also own a house in Milk River where we lived before we moved to Fort Saskatchewan. I had a job around Edmonton when the boys came to live with me. Soon after I was laid off and had a delima on what to do as my only income would be EI. I talked to my sons and we decided to move back to Milk River.

During this time my ex tried to get me to violate the EPO. She was texting my son and said she was thinking of canceling the EPO and she wanted to talk to me in secret and she won’t say anything. She also stated the only reason she got the EPO was to get custody of the house and the boys. I told my lawyer and he contacted her and she stated the same thing that she got the EPO because she knew I was going to try kicking her out of house.

Since the boys are with me and my residents is going to be in Milk River I took my name off all the bills. Gas, electricity and cable/internet and got my house in Milk River going. The boys are happy here now. Because I had no contact with Terry I haven’t told her about the move. I asked the boys to tell her but they don’t want too. They worried she’ll do something to ruin it. I said ok but you’re gonna have to tell her eventually. I told my lawyer what we were doing.

We’ve been here a week and I got a email from my lawyer today. She now has a lawyer and they saying I went to house and took boys away from matrimonial home and need to return them forthwith. If I do not they will file a application to have the children returned home. How worried do I have to be. What kinda rights do my sons have. They stated to their mom many times they do not want to live with her.

She also received a notification that the water will be disconnected if the outstanding balance not paid and someone in the house has to take up the electricity and gas. They want me to pay the outstanding balance and continue paying the gas and electricity. That I’ll have 48hrs or they’ll file a emergency application compelling me to fulfill my marital obligation. I don’t understand how I gotta keep paying the bills if it’s no longer my primary residence. She works and from what the boys told me she has a renter.

I emailed my lawyer get some answers but he hasn’t responded back. I currently owe my lawyer over $500 and they stated that I’m going to have to pay another $2000 retainer in the email he sent me. I told him in my email I’ll be getting a good tax return and will have the money in less then 2 weeks. I’m not sure what he’s going to do.

I figured I better give the whole story as it goes back. I’m really stressed out as I know as a father I have no rights and it a up hill battle all the way. The laws are very based towards the mother. I feel like we’ve run away and hiding from her. We just want to move on. Can she just get the boys back even though they don’t want to go. My oldest son told me if he never sees his mom again he’s ok with that. Can they just go to some judge and get me to pay her bills in 48hrs.


Contact Location: Canada Alberta