Regarding the parenting plan(AKA custody schedule for the children between the two parents).. I was under the impression that Dale did not have the children anywhere near equal amount of time that they were with their mother.. For two reasons, one because he was ordered to pay support for the twins to Michelle(if they were equally parenting the likelihood would be that there was no support paid.. UNLESS Dales employment + any other financial benefits he may be receiving if the total amount were signifigantly more that what Michelle's income from working 3 jobs was.. Well even if they were parenting 50/50 he still would be paying support to equal out both incomes).. <- this is the more recent way that custody support amount Is determined so that the children have a stable financial support while being in both parents custody..
The other reason I was under the impression that Dale did not have them a great or good deal of the time is due to several statements of concern made by Michelle's immediate family.. They have said multiple times that the twins were NOT accustomed to being with their father, in his care for any great length of time and that Michelle had them in her custody for the most part..
As I said that was just my personal impression from what I've observed combined with what I know about how custody arrangements, support, and schedules work..
One other tidbit regarding the custody and the arrangements made for when Michelle worked evening/late night shifts bartending were the children always to go to Dale's on those night's? And if not why not??
What I know is that the law in my state is that bio parents have first dibs always and that trumps all(with the exception being that should the parent be found in anyway unfit or in contempt for with holding the children).. Except for that issue bio parents trump all, ALWAYS.. meaning that regarding the specific question of the twins going to Dale on every night that Michelle worked.. In my state that would be his legal right to have them..
How that works is that if even it is not the parents "scheduled" parenting time but yet the parent whose scheduled parenting time it is makes/has other plans(and that could be for both personal plans or due to having to work).. In the event that the parent whose parenting time it is chooses or is required to go to work or just that they wanna "hit the town with pals", either way the dibs for who watches the children during that period of time(work hours or amount of time spent out with friends) automatically goes to the other parent who it is not their actual scheduled parenting time with the children..
Now all that is to say that it is in no way mandatory that the other parent MUST WATCH, TAKE CARE OF, PARENT THE CHILDREN DURING THIS TIME(whether they cannot due to work or that they just don't want to).. They do no have to, but however they are offered that option, FIRST and their personal choice whether they want to parent the kids for that time period or say no, I cant or don't want to.. Therefor allowing the parent whose actual "scheduled" parenting time that is to make other arrangements for who the children will stay with(ie. Grandma, aunt, babysitter)..
For this case that would mean that Dale would have every right to have had those children every single, one of those shifts that Michelle worked.. But whether he took advantage of that right is another story entirely.. And from the family's comments I'm just not under the impression that there was any where near equal amounts of parenting going on of these precious twins..
FWIW
