Chapter 15 - The separation becomes legal
Alessandra filed for temporary family-court orders six weeks after the collapse.
Not because Colin threatened to take Theo.
Because informal arrangements were becoming unstable.
Colin wanted unrestricted access to the baby at their marital home.
Alessandra did not yet feel comfortable staying there.
She was breastfeeding.
Theo was six weeks old.
Both parents had rights.
The court did not punish Colin for being a bad husband by erasing him as a father.
Temporary plan:
Theo primarily with Alessandra due feeding and age.
Colin received several shorter parenting periods each week, initially in a neutral family center or with an agreed supervisor nearby—not because he had assaulted Theo, but because conflict between adults was intense and he had demonstrated poor judgment around postpartum care.
The court ordered communication through a parenting application.
Marcia had no independent visitation right.
No unsupervised caregiving while the case was pending unless both parents agreed.
I was not appointed supervisor.
Important.
The judge said:
“Mr. Bellafonte’s conflict with Mr. Whitmore makes him a poor neutral exchange person.”
I disliked it.
She was correct.
A retired pediatric nurse named Susan Hale handled several early transitions.
Professional.
Boring.
May you like
Excellent.
────────────────────
