[VA] Question about emergency relief
So we have pendente lite order that is supposed to go through mid September. Until then, we are supposed to do week on/week off with our one year old. This past week was the first week she has gone to stay with her dad. I FaceTimed her everyday she was with him to check on her, and I noticed that she wasn’t her bubbly energetic self, but didn’t think too much of it. When I picked her up yesterday evening, I noticed she was very quiet and subdued - very unusual of her. I was watching her intently especially when we got back home because since she can’t talk yet, I need to make sure I notice any and everything.
At one point, she picked up the remote from the coffee table (as she has always done in the past) and went to put it in her mouth. She suddenly stopped, gave me the most frightened and fearful look, and immediately gave me the remote. A few minutes later, she did the same thing with a coaster. That look of fear on her face is one I have never seen before. When I went to give her a bath, she seemed a bit hesitant to get in the tub. She was fine for a bit and then I saw her start playing with a bit of bubbles, so I added more and she freaked out and started hysterically crying. Something she has never done before. She got up really quickly and clung to me so tightly, that she completely refused to go back in the tub. She was crying for about 8-10 minutes. I wrapped her in her towel and held her super close while she hugged my neck like she never has before. That level of clinginess is very strange for her.
Her father was emotionally abusive to me (that’s why I left) and I’m certain he is now doing the same to her. I have heard him on video call yelling at her to stop something, instead of trying to gently talk to her. I think this is going to cause emotional damage to her if she continues to be in his care for the next three months.
Additionally, he does not have a home. He is currently living in his cousin’s basement for the next few months. When asked in court where he would be living, he said he would be living with a friend and his two kids. His cousin has three adult children (so he lied.) He also mentioned that he would have her staying with him in the basement during his custodial time. When asked about his childcare plan, he said he would have her most days. That’s also not true as he has been leaving her at his sister’s house (I am pretty sure overnight-in a home with 6 adults and where she doesn’t have a dedicated place to sleep.) She also developed a rash on her body while she was staying with him and he didn’t tell me about it until the third day. It still hasn’t cleared up yet. All of the above taken together, could this be sufficient to file for emergency relief due to the change in circumstances? I just don’t know what to do.
Posted Jun 7, 2026, 4:39 AM UTC