Chapter 16 - THE FIRST CUSTODY HEARING
Daniel asked for supervised contact.
I wanted none.
Rachel warned:
“Your desire is relevant. The court’s question is Nora’s welfare.”
I hated that.
Then respected it.
Evidence:
domestic assault.
coercive control.
fabricated capacity documentation.
no direct harm to Nora after birth because he had no access.
No prior child history.
No substance abuse.
No psychosis.
Court ordered no unsupervised contact.
Therapeutic parenting assessment first.
Later, supervised visits could begin if professionals found them safe.
I did not have to attend.
Nora’s trust was represented separately.
No custody order would automatically transfer voting authority.
That structural separation prevented Daniel from using family court as corporate court.
Arthur’s trust had been flawed.
The reformed administration made it safer.
Daniel’s first supervised visit occurred when Nora was three months old.
I watched no video.
Claire did not either.
A professional supervisor later reported:
Daniel cried.
Held Nora correctly after instruction.
Changed one diaper badly.
Asked no trust questions.
Made no statements about me.
Good.
One visit did not erase anything.
May you like
It did show he could interact without control when control was structurally removed.
That would matter over years.
