Ex Refusing To Return My 9-month-old After Visit — What Can I Do?

Hi, I’m a 27-year-old mother in Texas and urgently need advice on how to get my child back. My ex-partner and I have 9-month-old twins together. We’re not married and don’t have a custody order in place.

On November 30, 2024, I dropped off both of my children with my ex so he could spend time with them. He has a history of mental health issues, so I felt safe doing this because his grandmother was present. After five hours, I went to pick them up, but he refused to return one of the twins, saying, “I have one, you have one.”

I immediately called the police, but they told me that without a custody order, he has equal rights and they could only perform a welfare check. Since then, I’ve filed a case with the Office of the Attorney General and contacted legal aid, but I’ve been told that the process is slow, and I don’t even have a court date yet. This means I’ll likely miss Christmas and New Year’s with my child, which is devastating.

I’ve tried calling my ex to check on my child, but he accuses me of harassment and refuses to answer. When I went to his house to try to see my child, he called the police, and I was warned for trespassing.

I feel completely stuck. Is there any faster way to get my child back or enforce my rights as a mother? I can’t stand being separated from my baby, especially during the holidays. Any advice would mean so much.