Abandoned? Mother Allegedly Leaves Kids for a Year

A family is torn apart as accusations fly in this explosive court hearing! Is paternity in question? Are the children being used as pawns? Watch as a judge tries to navigate a minefield of parental conflict, DNA tests, and visitation disputes. Don't miss this dramatic showdown - and let us know WHO YOU BELIEVE in the comments below!

The central conflict revolves around paternity of the older child, Dion, child support, and visitation. Mr. Shepherd claims he has been providing support and care for the children since birth, even when Miss Anderson allegedly abandoned them. Miss Anderson appears to be contesting his paternity claims, although this is disputed. The court is trying to establish temporary orders for support and visitation while awaiting DNA test results.

Litigants List:

Miss Anderson (Mother)
Mr. Shepherd (Alleged Father)
Miss Anandis (Mr. Shepherd's Attorney)
Mr. Hernandez (Attorney)
Miss Todd (Ad Litem for the children)

Key Legal Terms:

Paternity: Legal determination of fatherhood.
Ad Litem: A lawyer appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child.
Temporary Child Support: Court-ordered payments to support a child before a final custody/support order is established.
Visitation: The schedule that allows a non-custodial parent to spend time with their child(ren).
Nacosteal Party Non-custodial party living over 100 miles away
Motion: A formal request made to the court for a specific action or ruling.

Legal Motions Before the Court:

Temporary child support order.
DNA testing for paternity of the younger child, Dion.
Visitation schedule for Mr. Shepherd, who lives in a different county.
Appointment of an ad litem to represent the children's best interests.
Order for parties to communicate through the App Close application.

Visitation Issues:

Mr. Hernandez, mentions Mr. Shepherd hasn't seen the children since December, which he deems "very irregular."
Ms. Anandis claims transportation issues only arose after Mr. Shepherd started his lawsuit.

Pro Se Litigant: An individual representing themselves in court without an attorney. The Judge mentioned that someone was previously considered a pro se litigant but is no longer in that status.
Custodial Parent (CP): The parent with whom the child primarily resides.
Primary Conservator: In Texas, this parent has the legal right to make most decisions for the child.
Sole Managing Conservator: A parent who has the exclusive right to make decisions for the child, without input or agreement from the other parent.
Temporary Orders: Court orders put in place while the case is pending, often addressing urgent needs.
Possession Orders: Orders specifying when each parent has physical custody of the child.
Standard Possession Order: A common visitation schedule in Texas, typically involving weekends and holidays.
Child Support: Financial payments made by one parent to the other to support their child.
Medical Support: Orders requiring a parent to provide health insurance for the child.
Minimum Wage Presumption: Using the minimum wage as a starting point to calculate child support for a parent with limited or no documented income.
Family Violence: Acts that cause harm or create fear of harm between family members.
Non-Disclosure: An order that limits or prohibits communication between the parents.
Neutral Location: A safe, public place for exchange of custody when parents are unable to meet peacefully.
App Close: A messaging app used for communication between parents, to provide a record of communication.
Acknowledgment of Paternity: A legal document signed by a man admitting he is the father of a child.
DNA Paternity Analysis: A test to determine the biological father of a child.
Bond: A payment made to secure release from jail, often with conditions.
Restricted Area/Save Zone: Conditions of a bond that may limit where an individual is allowed to go to protect the safety of a potential victim.
Redirect: When an attorney questions their witness again after they've been questioned by the other side.