New Jersey fans of reality show star Amanza Smith may be familiar with the emotional journey she has been navigating regarding child custody issues in her divorce. Smith is currently facing post-judgment matters after filing a petition seeking sole custody of her two children. Their father, former NFL cornerback Ralph Brown, has reportedly been out of touch with Smith and the kids for some time now.
Smith says Brown has essentially vanished from their lives
Smith says she is asking the court to grant her sole custody of her two children because their father dropped out of their lives. She says that Brown has not paid child support in approximately three years. She also stated that he had previously been very involved in the kids’ lives but sent her an email saying he could no longer care for the children.
Smith says after receiving the email, Brown brought the children to her and no one has heard from him since. The situation has sparked legal complications. For instance, Brown has determined a need to seek therapy for her children, who are having a difficult time coping with their parents’ divorce. However, her current court order requires that she obtain Brown’s permission before doing so. She says she cannot seek Brown’s permission if she cannot find him.
Post-judgment matters often necessitate a return to court
There may be New Jersey parents facing similar post-judgment matters after divorce. If a parent has a legitimate cause to do so, he or she may seek modification of an existing child custody order, such as Smith is doing in her case. The decision about whether to grant a request for modification is left to the court’s discretion after reviewing the merits of an individual case.