Divorced parents and medical procedures?

I posted this last night but did not get many responses. Probably because it was so late and most normal people were sleeping...unlike me :)

I need your opinion on something. First a little background... My husband has a 14 year old daughter by his first wife. He pays child support (almost $700 per month) and half of all medical bills.The divorce decree also states he is suppose to have access to all medical and educational record that belong to the daughter. The daughter needs braces and went for her consultation today. When dad called the dentist to talk about the daughter's consultation he was told that the mother specifically told them not to disclose any information about the daughter's consultation, procedure or cost, with dad. But we are expected to just fork over $2300 (half of the cost of the braces) to the mother. Do you think it is right for dad to not be able to call the dentist to get procedure and cost/payment information?

Thanks for any help!
Additional Details
mJc: I am not "whining" about anything. WE have absolutely no problem paying for this or any of the other things we pay for. But when over the course of 8 years, the daughter has broken both arms, had a broken ankle and had plastic surgery and dad was never told it gets a little old. The only way we find out anything is after the fact or when mom needs money!

Brianna

If it states in the divorce decree that he has all access to medical and educational records, he should be able to go into the orthodontist and show it to them and gain access to the records.

Have your husband contact his attorney to contact his ex's attorney and explain to the ex that she could be found to be in contempt. No, do not pay it until sufficient records and discussions have happened.

smartypants909

The father is entitled to the exact information the mother is entitled to. He should withhold payment until he receives duplicates of all paperwork she has on the treatment.

nobigger120

No it is not...if there is a court agreement then present it to the dentist, the father should have the same rights to what the mother does as long as the daughter is okay with it...but coming from a girl that grew up with divorced parents, try not to put the daughter in the middle of it and make her pick sides : (

Taylor & Brayden's Mommy

When I was going through my divorce the lawyers told us that dad was responsible for all the med. insurance and he would have to be called when our son had to go anywhere. I think that yeah he has right to, he needs to call the lawyer and make sure.

Angry Atheist

NOPE if it is in his papers that he has full access to med records ( I have this same clause) then she not only has no right to with hold the information she is actually in contempt of a court order (the divorce papers). I would be on the phone with my ex so fast her head would spin... If she did not cooperate then it is on to the lawyer. I don't know about you but I give my little girl all that I am supposed to give her and then more. I don't need her mother lying to me about bills.

Queen of Beer

Yes, he should be informed as it pertains to his own daughter and her health. I agree with the other poster, withhold payment until he is allowed to see the records. Let the ex-wife try to take him to court, she is in the wrong anyway.

chipmunk_squirrel

the father should be entitled to any information like that

VicB

Sounds like a dental issue , Need another dentist if they won'y play nice.
I am in the play pen with sweet mildred

Jade M

The father has every right to this information. If I were him, I would go to the dentist office, divorce decree in hand and see what they have to say about it then.

Clementine

My husband's daughter gets braces for !!!!!$6,000!!!!! And they charge it all to his medical insurance account. Wifey's supposed to pay half, Never happens. I hate it.

TENI

Have your husband show the dentist the divorce decree, and I suggest he show this to all business her daugther interact. If the ex-wife is hiding something, instead of a coonfrontation, have him go see a lawyer again.

Try not to intervine in the front line, as it looks bad for the new wife, just like what Judge Judy suggest.. go back to the court. You don't want this to bomb back to the daughter.... Sadly kids gets the middle of a bad situation.

Just be supportive in the back seat...

Cham

They usually won't give information over the phone anyway. He needs to go to the dentist and request a copy of the records, and if the dentist refuses, then that dentist can be sued. On top of this, Dad needs to record the dentist making the statement that mom requested that he be denied access to those records, if the statement is written, then have it subpoenaed. Sue her in court for violating the order.

Edit: VERY bad advice in the first response. He cannot withhold payment of support, then HE will be in violation of the order and I can tell you he'll be in MUCH more trouble than she.

Pal

I think Dad better call ex-wife and tell her that unless he gets equal access to the records she gets no $$. Let her go after him for the money if that is how she wants to play it. She would most likely have had to put someone down as guarantor for payment on the account.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: