Father's Rights for Kahekili
Donation protected
Friends and family. Some of you may know my current situation. I didn’t want to ask for any help but now I’m in real need. I was planning to represent myself at a hearing on Dec 12, 2017 to prevent my Ex-wife from taking our son out of state and moving to Tampa, FL on Dec 17, 2017. Some false accusations came up today Dec 8, 2017 which requires me to hire an attorney. I’m still currently trying to pay off the last custody trail we had in May 2017.
Here’s a brief summary of our story…
We got divorced in Japan Oct 2011. Japan does not have Joint Custody Law so 100% custody went to their citizen. After I retired from the US Air Force in Sep 2012, I decided to stay in Okinawa, Japan to be near my son and maintain a father and son relationship. In Jun 2015, his mother told me she was moving Aug 2015 to Virginia to get married and is taking our son. I consulted with a Japan lawyer to see what rights I have. I had none because she had 100%. If interested, you can google “Japan Custody Laws” and you’ll understand why I didn’t have any rights.
So, about 2 weeks after she told me about the move, I decided I was also going to move to Virginia. I dropped everything and moved to Virginia in Oct 2015. I immediately got a lawyer to try and gain 50% custody because we are now in the United States and both parents have rights, unlike Japan, its only one parent.
The custody trial just concluded May 2017, and it didn’t go as planned. I ended up settling based on my lawyer’s advice at the time. But at least now I have parental rights. I have 50% legal custody and with visitation 5 days every other weekend, 4 consecutive weeks summer vacation, and alternating major holidays.
Fast forward 6 months to Nov 2017 she tells me she’s taking our son to go live in Florida. She is trying to do the same thing again claiming it’s the best interest for him. It is not in his best interest. From his birth, I have been heavily involved in his upbringing. I potty trained him, taught him English, taught him how to swim, surf, paddleboard, attended all his school functions, PTA member, volunteer at his school, we hike, bike ride, snowboard, fish. I cook his meals, eat school lunch with him weekly, he writes journals at my house. We do so many things together and all of that is at risk if his mother is allowed to take him.
I cannot comprehend why she would think this is in his best interest to be taken from his father and pulled from his school mid-year again. This time I have parental rights and I am going to fight for both of our rights. I made a promise to my son when his mother and I got divorced. I promised I would always be there for him physically and mentally. When my ex moved in 2015 I reiterated that promise again and I kept it. Two years later it’s happening again. Please help me keep this promise. I’m just crying right now. I can’t believe this is happening again. I love my son so much!
As I said earlier I’m not comfortable asking for financial help. Any amount is greatly appreciated. More so, your prayers are most valuable for a positive outcome. The amount I’m asking for covers the initial lawyer’s retainer fee of $3500, hourly fee of $350, court fees, etc. My last trial ended up being $55,000. I pray it doesn’t get anywhere near that amount.
I’ve included pictures of us. I have tons more on my Instagram account @joshlacar . I don’t just say the things I do with my son, we live it. Please check it out if you have the time.
Mahalo for taking time to read our story,
Josh and Kahekili Lacar
Here’s a brief summary of our story…
We got divorced in Japan Oct 2011. Japan does not have Joint Custody Law so 100% custody went to their citizen. After I retired from the US Air Force in Sep 2012, I decided to stay in Okinawa, Japan to be near my son and maintain a father and son relationship. In Jun 2015, his mother told me she was moving Aug 2015 to Virginia to get married and is taking our son. I consulted with a Japan lawyer to see what rights I have. I had none because she had 100%. If interested, you can google “Japan Custody Laws” and you’ll understand why I didn’t have any rights.
So, about 2 weeks after she told me about the move, I decided I was also going to move to Virginia. I dropped everything and moved to Virginia in Oct 2015. I immediately got a lawyer to try and gain 50% custody because we are now in the United States and both parents have rights, unlike Japan, its only one parent.
The custody trial just concluded May 2017, and it didn’t go as planned. I ended up settling based on my lawyer’s advice at the time. But at least now I have parental rights. I have 50% legal custody and with visitation 5 days every other weekend, 4 consecutive weeks summer vacation, and alternating major holidays.
Fast forward 6 months to Nov 2017 she tells me she’s taking our son to go live in Florida. She is trying to do the same thing again claiming it’s the best interest for him. It is not in his best interest. From his birth, I have been heavily involved in his upbringing. I potty trained him, taught him English, taught him how to swim, surf, paddleboard, attended all his school functions, PTA member, volunteer at his school, we hike, bike ride, snowboard, fish. I cook his meals, eat school lunch with him weekly, he writes journals at my house. We do so many things together and all of that is at risk if his mother is allowed to take him.
I cannot comprehend why she would think this is in his best interest to be taken from his father and pulled from his school mid-year again. This time I have parental rights and I am going to fight for both of our rights. I made a promise to my son when his mother and I got divorced. I promised I would always be there for him physically and mentally. When my ex moved in 2015 I reiterated that promise again and I kept it. Two years later it’s happening again. Please help me keep this promise. I’m just crying right now. I can’t believe this is happening again. I love my son so much!
As I said earlier I’m not comfortable asking for financial help. Any amount is greatly appreciated. More so, your prayers are most valuable for a positive outcome. The amount I’m asking for covers the initial lawyer’s retainer fee of $3500, hourly fee of $350, court fees, etc. My last trial ended up being $55,000. I pray it doesn’t get anywhere near that amount.
I’ve included pictures of us. I have tons more on my Instagram account @joshlacar . I don’t just say the things I do with my son, we live it. Please check it out if you have the time.
Mahalo for taking time to read our story,
Josh and Kahekili Lacar
Organizer
Josh Lacar
Organizer
Tampa, FL
