Greedy Mom Demands Child Support Increase After Dad Pays 7 Months Upfront

Attorney Lark. So, Attorney Lark and Mr. Gray, you all are going to be given 30 minutes per side. That will include any include any opening and close closing statements. Oh, I'm getting tongue twisted. That will include any opening and closing statements should you all choose to make one. Mr. Gray, I know that you're representing yourself, so you're held to the same standard as an attorney in terms of making your objections. Attorney Lark may make objections. And when you hear her say the word objection, you just stop speaking and wait for me to make a ruling on it. Okay. >> Okay. Understood. >> All right. And Attorney Lark is going to go first. She's going to call any witnesses that Miss Cole may have. After you hear her say that she rest, then it'll be your opportunity to present your case and let me know anything that um you would like for me to know. But Attorney Lark does have the ability to call you as one of her witnesses. Okay. >> Understood. Okay. Attorney Lark, would you like to make an opening statement at this time? >> No, your honor. >> All right, Mr. Gray. >> Uh, your honor, um, I um and I'm an active and loving father to my daughter. Um, I have voluntarily um um taken actions to to uh financially contribute to my daughter's um current and future well-being. um before uh we ever um enter into the court order or a custody custody agreement, child support order, any of those things, um I established um a 529 plan when my child was um an infant and I've made um 98% of contributions to that fund. I um have transferred over some of my um my uh GI bill uh GI Bill benefits for education, continue education um as I'm a service member and I have continued my service um so that my child can uh receive the benefits from the sacrifices I make as a service member and also uh Miss Cole has received um an additional 20 um 20 installments of child support payments um from a period of time when I was working uh I had a second um job where I was trying to make sure that um I could uh financially um afford to provide the particular type of uh experience my child deserve when it came to the uh summertime visitations um and to in order for me to um regularly travel to Dallas from wherever I was um stationed outside of Texas um for my for me to be present for um regular activities that she would be in, whether it be dance or academics or any other thing that I could be there for holidays. Um so I I worked a second job and Miss Cole was receiving payments. Um that total was nearly $6,000 at $5,92425. So I am ahead the equivalent of 7 months on child support installments or child support payments um from in that duration. Um the other part to that is um I would like to uh at some point or um I am requesting consideration of travel arrangements. Currently I live 2,000 mi away. I live in the uh in Virginia state. Um so I regularly travel to Dallas um um at at a rate of five to six times a year regularly. Um and those expenses on top of what I already pay and contribute to my child's future. Um, I would ask that those things be taken as consideration. >> Thank you, Mr. Gray. Does that conclude your opening statement? >> Yes, your honor. >> Thank you. Attorney Lark, you may call your first witness. >> I'm going to call Mr. Gray. >> All right. Mr. Gray, you're on the witness stand. Attorney Lark, you may proceed. >> Thank you, your honor. Can you tell the court your first your full name? >> Rashan Gray. >> Okay. And you have one child who is Bailey Gray, correct? >> Yes. And how old is Bailey? >> Nine years old. >> Okay. And you currently um are you work for the military? >> Yes. >> And how many years have you been in the served in the military? >> 17 years. >> Okay. And you also talked about a second job that you had. When did you have a second job? >> Um in 2023 to 2024. >> Okay. And I'm going to show you what's marked as district exhibit P2. You want to share my screen? Yes, you all both of you may share your screens. >> Okay. Thank you, your honor. Can y'all see that this pay scale? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Could you enlarge it? >> Yes. I'm sorry. I just want to make sure we see it first. And then Mr. Gray, you said what's your rank in the military? >> I am a E7 according to the scale. >> And so E7 with over 16 years, you said you've been 17 years. Your base pay would be about $6,000 per month. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. And you also get additional money on top of that. Correct. >> What do you mean? >> For BAH. Do you get additional money for BAH? >> Yes. For housing? Yes. >> Okay. And you live off post, correct? >> Yes, I do. >> And you receive that BAH based on the cost of living in Virginia. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um, and Bailey, is she listed your dependent? >> She is. >> Okay. And you provide medical deal insurance for Bailey? Yes, I do. >> Okay. And your honor, I'm gonna I can share my screen again. >> Can you see my screen? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, additionally for BAH and your zip code, is that your zip code 22041? >> Yes. >> Okay. based on your um your military housing. So in addition to your base pay plus again Bailey being your dependent, you would be receiving an additional over $3,000 a month. Correct. >> Yes. Before taxes. >> Okay. And so you be receiving about $9,855 per month gross. Correct. >> Gross. Yes. >> Okay. And let's see. Back in September of 2025, my office sent you discovery requests. Do you remember getting those discovery requests about your financial information? >> Yes. >> And you didn't respond to any of those discovery requests regarding financial information, did you? >> I did eventually. >> Okay. But we had to have two motion to compel and you still didn't produce bank statements, paycheck stubs, additional documents that were requested. Correct. In those discovery requests, >> I provided uh paycheck stubs. I'm sorry. I provided uh bank statements um and W2s I believe. >> Okay. But that's from the last year. They were not recent. They were like 2022 2023. Correct. >> And 20 they were up until up until the the period which I was had received W2s. I think for 25 >> my had not been released. >> Mr. Great. If you just listen to the question that she's asking and only answer that and then if you need to clear up anything when it's your opportunity to speak to me, you can clear it up with me. Okay. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. >> And so I'll just be clear for the record. We had two motion compel hearings requesting financial documents from you. Correct. >> Do you remember those two hearings? >> I believe you to pay and you order to pay attorney's fees in addition to those motion to compel. Do you remember those orders? I did pay one one motion to compel. >> Objection. Nonresponsive. >> Sustain. >> I just want a yes or a no. Were you to pay attorney's fees for both of those motion to compel? >> Yes. >> And you did not pay per those two orders. Is that correct? >> Can you say to repeat the question? >> Did you follow those orders with regard to paying attorney's fees? >> Yes. One of two. >> Okay. And to the date, have you provided any paycheck steps to show where your money is actually going? paycheck steps. >> Correct. >> I provide my financial my bank statements. So you can say responsive >> and I and I will can see that you did provide bank statements. Correct. But you did not provide paycheck stubs showing how much you actually make and where that money goes. Is that correct? >> Okay. Correct. >> Okay. Um I'll pass on this at this time, your honor. All right. Um, Mr. Gray, would you like to wait until she finishes her case and chief and then you speak to me >> about what she just questioned me regarding? >> Yes. >> Um, if if while while we still have it fresh um if >> Yes. >> Okay. Um for the I did not prov um provide the um the um W2 or not the W2s for the W2s. I provided up until um 20 up until the current date. Um I did not receive the 2025 W2 uh before the hearing which was in December. So I did not have access to provide her. So the the most recent W2 that I had at that point in time was for up till 2024. I did not have a W2 for 2025 yet to provide to her. So I did provide her the most current information on that. Uh when it pertains to the um tech stubs, um I I during the second um um the second uh enforcement, I provided them, but I believe the document was too large of a file um to send in an email. >> Okay. Is that all you want me to know at this point? Yes, that's >> based on what you were just questioned about. >> Yes, your honor. Yes. >> Okay. Attorney Lark, you may call your next witness. >> I'll call Miss Cole, your honor. >> All right, you may proceed. >> Miss Cole, can you please say your full name for the record? >> Yes, Larry and Cole. >> And who is And how many children do you have? >> One. >> And who is And is that Bailey? Gray. >> Correct. >> And who's the father of Bailey? >> Christian Gray. >> Okay. And last April of 2025, you hired me to file a modification in this case. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. And have you had a chance to look at the requested rulings that were submitted to the court? >> Yes. >> Okay. And so one of the requested rules you're asking for is for child support to be made retroactive back to the date that Mr. Gray was served. Is that correct? Okay. And although he was served at the end of June, I think we put June 1st, but are you fine with retroactive child support starting July 1st of 2025? >> Yes. >> If the court awards it. Okay. And are you were you aware that Mr. Gray um at any point in the last few years had been working two jobs? >> I was. >> Okay. Did you ever modify child support any time prior to this case? >> No. >> Okay. And today you're asking the court to review the requested rulings and grant um orders in conformity with those rulings. >> Correct. >> Okay. And with regard to the temporary orders and conservatorship and things you ask to be modified from temporary orders, are you asking those to remain as order in the temporary orders? Correct. >> Okay. And also the last one, you're asking the court to award attorney's fees for revenue to pursue this matter. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. And again, this course this case, you've been at this hearing or had hearing several times in this case regarding trying to get documents and getting Mr. Gray to comply. Is that correct? >> That's correct. >> And the only issue that's remained outstanding since temporary orders was child support. Is that correct? >> That's correct. >> Okay. Is there anything else you want the judge to know at this time? >> No, not at this time. Okay. No further questions, your honor. >> Thank you. Mr. Gray, do you have any questions for Miss Cole? >> Uh, yes, your honor. >> You may proceed. >> Uh, Miss Cole, um, during the period with that you were made aware that um um that I that Mr. Gray was working a second job. U, were you receiving additional uh, child support payments during that period of time? >> Yes, that was something that was orchestrated by the OA. I didn't request that. >> Okay. Um during that period of time, was Mr. Gray um regularly flying into um was Mr. Gray regularly involved in participation um in the child's activities? >> I'm going to object as to Mr. Gray having no documents requested relief on file as far as pleadings. He has no pleadings on file, your honor. >> Okay. Um Char's request for reduction in child support or modifying child support or anything. But >> right, but he's asking her questions based on her testimony. >> Correct. >> He can do that. >> Okay. >> Okay. Overall. >> Okay. Um so would you say that would um was it um brought to your attention that those additional funds were to enable Mr. to be present for his child's activities. >> I'm not I'm not sure of the question. Can you rephrase it? I'm not sure. >> Did Mr. Gray Did Mr. Gray advise you that the second employment the second job that he um the second employment was in order to enable him to financially be able to be present for you all's child? >> No, not directly. It was said that you were getting a second job for financial purposes >> and where >> you don't have to you don't have to refer to yourself and okay person you can say I and me. >> Okay. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. So, um, so Miss Cole, did Miss did Bailey or did Bailey, our child, directly benefit from Mr. Gray being um or having a second job >> from the payments that I received? Yes. >> Did um was Bailey also glad that Mr. Gray could be present for her extracurricular activities? sustain. That's a question that would cause her to speculate on what the answer may be. So, you can rephrase that question. >> Was Bailey excited when her dad show or when dad showed up for her recreational activities? >> The relevance. >> What's the relevance, Mr. Gray? The relevance is um me me working me putting that effort to be present for my child is for her direct benefit emotionally and um uh for her emotional development >> right and your question is asking her was Bailey excited so >> did you did did you did she observe the excitement in the child for her dad being present >> I'm going to object this to relevance With regard to child support, y'all, the family issue before the court. >> Over overruled. I mean, excuse me, sustained. Sustained. It's not relevant, Mr. Gray, to the issue that is before the court. The issue before the court is really two issues. So, whether or not your child support should be increased to the amount that she's requesting and whether or not she is going to receive retroactive child support from the date of July 1st, 2025. So, anything that's revolving around those questions and her summary of requested relief, I mean, her responses, that's what you're going to be asking her questions based on. Does that make sense? >> Okay. Um, Miss Cole, are you aware that um of the 529 plan that that Mr. Greg or that I created for Bailey? >> I'm going to object to relevance for current child support. >> Okay. >> Retroactive >> sustain. re relevance is it I regular I contribute to that um for >> Mr. Mr. Gray that I sustain the objection so you have to ask a next question but when it's your opportunity to speak you know you put those exhibits in evidence so then you're allowed to talk to them at that point. Okay. >> Okay. Okay. Understood. Um, how Miss Miss Cole, how often does Mr. Gray travel to uh Dallas? >> To relevance with regard to his current or retroactive child support. >> What's the relevance to your travel as it relates to child support in the retro? >> The relevance is I have added expenses um in order to spend more time with my daughter. over >> and and the expense and the expenses are substantial if I'm traveling. >> Oh, sorry. It's fine. I overruled her objection. So, you can ask. >> Okay. >> She has to answer your question. >> Okay. I didn't hear you. I'm sorry. >> That's okay. >> You want to repeat the question? >> Yeah, I was going to say she may not remember the question. Gray, >> how how um how many times uh does Mr. great travel to Dallas um to spend time with with uh Bailey annually. >> That varies the year. >> Would you say would you would you say more than four times? >> I would not. >> Would you say more than five times? >> I would not. >> How many times would you would you estimate Mr. Gray travels to Dallas? >> I would say on average to see his child on average three to four times a year. Okay. Does that also include the the travel that's necessary to when when during the summer visitations, does Mr. Cole or Mr. Gray um uh remain in Dallas or does he take the child back to his residence um out of state? I'm going to object honest to relevance of where he spends his visitation time. >> Overruled. You may answer the question. >> Okay. Typically, you guys will stay here for a couple of weeks while you're on leave and then you return to where you're staying at that time. >> Thank you. Um during the during the summer visitations, um are they are does Mr. ensure that the the child participates in um recreational activities during the summers. >> I'm going to object on this to relevance. >> Mr. Gray, what is the relevance of that question? >> There are additional expenses associated with um summer summer uh parenting time. >> What kind of expenses are you referring? >> Summer summer camp, swim lessons, other um other disciplines to help with um the child's development. Overall, >> babysitters. >> Overall, Miss Cole, you may answer the question. >> To my knowledge, Bailey has not been enrolled in summer camps for the last two summers of being with you. Also, I am not aware of any extracurricular activities that you have had her enrolled in in recent years. I would also like to say that I have contributed financially when she has gone with you for the summer including flights to and from you and providing uh money washing. >> That's not objection. Objection. >> Okay. What is your legal objection Mr. Gray? >> Um she did not answer the question directly. It was a yes or no question. >> Okay. So what is the legal objection? No. Um um I can't I can't think of the um can you uh you can't help me out with the the parameters? >> I mean you you you gave a description. So this what we'll do. She you move on to your next question. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh, Miss Cole, so Miss Code, are you saying that Mr. Gray did not have the child enrolled in swim lessons in the last two years? >> Objection relevance. >> M, >> hold on one second, Miss. >> So, hold on, Miss Co. Can I >> rephrase? >> Are you re are you withdrawing that question and rephrasing it? >> Um, I'm I'm going to go to another question. >> Okay, go ahead. >> Is that what you want me to do? >> Well, not that I want you to do. I didn't know where you were going with that because attorney lark was getting ready to make an objection and I didn't know if you objection and was going to move on to another question. >> Okay. Miss Cole, has has Bailey participated in swim lessons um during her time with Mr. Gray? >> Yes, I believe it was two years ago. >> So he So she has participated in activities. I said that I said in recent years I am not aware of any extracurricular activities. Two years ago. >> Okay. So two years ago did did Bailey celebrate her birthday at a summer camp to your to to your memory? >> Two years ago. >> Okay. So that is a period of time where recently where um the child did participate in extracurricular activities to your knowledge. >> Um you object a question your honor. >> I'm sorry objection council. >> That wasn't a question. I think he's just testifying I guess. >> Okay. Sustain. Mr. Gray you may ask your next question. >> Miss Cole, was Mr. great able to um enroll the child in any activities this past summer. >> I don't know what you mean by able to. >> How much time did Mr. Did Bailey spend with uh Mr. Gray in and um during the parenting time for the summer? >> I'm going to object this to relevance, your honor, with regard to retroactive and current child support. >> Repeat the question, Mr. Gray. How how long was Bailey afforded to spend the summer this past summer with Mr. Gray? >> There's relevance because I wasn't able to to get my adequate parenting time according to the custody order. >> Okay. Um sustain. So you have to ask another question. >> Okay. Has Mr. Gray expressed to you the u financial uh the the cost of living in the area that he is located as um a means of constraint? >> Objection as to relevance of what his cost of living is to my client. >> Sustain. Miss Cole, were you are you were you made aware of the the transfer of the educational benefits Mr. Gray has made to uh that has has made and committed to his daughter? >> I'm going to object to relevance. >> Mr. Gray, what is the relevance of that question? there's a financial um benefit uh directly associate associated to those u educational continue educational benefits >> sustain rephrase that question >> miss co are you aware of the financial um benefits associated to the educational benefits that Mr. is transferred over to Bailey. >> I'm going to object us to relevance with regard to child support. He was not ordered to do that and I'm going to assume it was a gift. >> There's no order where he's required to do that. What What kind of What did you call it, Mr. Gray? >> The the educational benefits I've transferred over to my daughter so that she can go to college for free. >> It's the GI, your honor. >> Oh, okay. That would be relative I mean um relevant >> overrule. >> Can you re ask a question please? >> Are you were you were you made aware of the benefits that were transferred over to for Bailey's benefit to continue education? >> I uh know that you transferred over. I'm not I don't know anything about the amount of those benefits. No, you don't share that information with me. >> Did Mr. Gray ever provide you a copy of of those benefits and the details encompassing? >> Not to my knowledge, you haven't? >> Uh, Miss Cole, can you see? One second, please. >> We objected to any evidence that or document that's not already requested to be in evidence, your honor. >> Mr. Gray, what what is it that you're pulling up? Uh it's an email that I I shared those I shared this on October 11, 2018. I shared u in an email with details outlining the benefits that I had transferred over to Bailey. This is exactly two uh exactly 3 months prior to uh Miss Miss Cole petitioning for any uh child support or custody um agreement arrangements. >> Okay. So here's the deal. You didn't submit that email. Excuse me. you didn't put it into evidence. However, when it's your turn to testify, if that's what you want me to know about the specifics regarding that email, then you can talk about it at that time. Okay. >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. >> Yes, sir. >> You may ask your next question. >> Miss Cole, are you aware that Mr. Gray is seven months ahead on child support payments in total? >> Objection to relevance. re ask the question again. >> Are you aware that Mr. Gray is a um has paid in advance 7 months of child support payments? >> Overall, off the top of my head, I'm not certain how how far in advance you are due to the second job. >> Are you aware that Mr. Co has paid or Mr. GR has contributed uh paid in advance over nearly $6,000 in in in a total amount. >> Same answer off the top of my head. I'm not aware of that amount. >> No further questions, your honor. >> Okay. Attorney Lark, do you have any redirect of your client? >> Just one or two questions, your honor. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> With regard to Mr. Gay's visitation with Bailey. Um, who paid for those flights to assist with Mr. Gay's visitation? >> I have paid for several flights for both myself and Bailey to take her to where he's been stationed and to have someone pick her up. >> And can you tell the court some of the places you've flown with Bailey to to in order to facilitate or make sure those visitations occur? >> Yes. So, Seattle, when he was based in Seattle before, where he's based now, uh, myself and my sister, I believe I went to pick her up. my sister took her. Um, or it might have been the other way around. Uh, but I paid for both of those flights. Um, I also paid for Bailey's flights uh so that she could get to him uh when he was stationed in Colleen. I would meet Mr. Gray halfway or I would bring her to Colleen uh via driving so that she could be with her father. >> Okay. Did you ever ask Mr. Gray to reimburse you for any of those expenses? >> I did not. >> Okay. and prior to or even since you guys have since Bailey's birth. Um, where does Mr. Ray where did he live prior to going to the military? >> Uh, so he's been in the military since Bailey was born. >> Okay. Did he ever reside here in Dallas area? >> No, not since being in the military. >> Does he have family here in the Dallas area? >> He does. >> And to your knowledge, where does he stay or where does the changes take place when he's here in Dallas visiting with family during the summer? >> I'm sorry. You said where does he stay? >> Where? Yes. Um, typically either with his sister or his godmother. >> Okay. Have you ever taken Bailey to a hotel to meet with him because he's staying in a hotel? >> No. >> Okay. No further questions, your honor, for this witness. >> Okay. Thank you. You may call your next witness. >> I'll call myself, your honor. >> One one question, your honor. >> Oh, do I get I'm sorry, Mr. Cole. you want to >> do I get to cross-examine based off of what she just asked the questions or the respondents? >> Yeah, you can ask her. Go ahead. >> Okay. Miss Cole Miss Cole, you claim that you um you have tra you have um on several occasions you have um purchased flights. Do you have any evidence of of said purchase flights? >> I do. I have the receipts. Have you provided that as evidence of of of uh said claims? >> I wasn't requested to. I hadn't been asked about it until this point. >> Okay, Miss Cole. Um, how long has Mr. Gray resided in Washington uh in in Virginia in the DMV area? We'll just can we uh we'll just name it DMV for >> I believe you were restation in December or January. I'm not quite sure. Okay. So, you said that you have um you you said that you have traveled um to bring you have you you and your sister have traveled to Washington DC to bring uh Bailey to my residence or bring Bailey here to DC. >> That's not what I said. I said when you were stationed in Washington State in Tacoma, Washington, which was your base before DC. Well, I I believe I heard you say you've traveled recently to Washington DC or the DMV. >> No, I did not. I said Washington State. >> Okay. Okay. When when was the most recent time when when Mr. When I resided in Washington State, which what dates did you travel um to bring Bailey to um Washington to to me? Off the top of my head, >> off the top of my head, I cannot give you those direct dates, but if the court would like me to get them, I can. >> Please. Um Um So, are you're saying that you traveled at least two times to Washington State to transfer to exchange uh Bailey? >> That is correct. If you recall, Mr. Gray, you actually picked me up from the airport when I brought Bailey to you and we waited overnight in your vehicle for my flight to return back home to Dallas. >> And that was one that was one instance. >> And my sister then picked her up, which I paid for. >> And what what was the reason for that for for your your sister traveling to DC? >> Washington state. >> Hold on one second. Sustain. That's not right. >> What was the reason? >> No, no, no. Oh, okay. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. >> Miss Cole, how many times did you say you traveled um to to to transfer exchange the child when Mr. Gray was living out of in Washington state? >> I believe twice. >> Do you recall anything of the the first instance of you traveling to exchange? I'm going to object you to relevance. >> Miss Miss Cole only only traveled once to to exchange the child in Washington state. It was not multiple. >> Mr. Gray, it's okay. >> Okay. >> I sustain it. Ask your next question. In what is it? And what when did you uh purchase a flight for for aside from the time where you um travel with the child to exchange, what other instance did you ever pay for a flight? >> I believe you already asked that and as I said before, I don't have the exact dates in front of me, but I can get that if the court requested. Can can what summer if was it a summer or a um holiday period which in which you would have purchased a flight >> on which occasion? >> The the occasion that you referred that you that you uh paid for a flight. >> There's been multiple. So >> excluding excluding >> onecluding cannot speak at the same time. Let him finish asking the question and then Mr. Gray, let her finish answering the question. Okay. >> Yes, your honor. >> Excluding the Excluding the instance when you traveled with the child to exchange, what period of time, was it summer or was it holiday break that you paid for you purchased a flight uh for the child? >> Off the top of my head, I'm not sure, but I'm pretty certain it would would have been summer. Typically you come here for holidays. >> Okay. So if you purchase of did you purchase just one individual flight for the child or did you purchase a flight for for the child and Mr. Gray? >> I'm going to object this to relevance. Your honor >> sustain. Miss Cole, how is it possible? Um, how how is it that you you you said that you you purchased um you purchased flights um you you have purchased flights for for travel when you cannot recall if it was summer or holiday break in which the child um traveled. >> I'm going to object to relevance, your honor. >> Sustain. >> Okay. Miss Cole, how long is how long did Mr. Gray live in Washington State? >> Objection on to relevance. sustained. >> No further questions. >> Okay. Attorney Lark, you may call your next witness. >> I'll call myself Yor for attorney's fees. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> My name is Rosen Lark. I've been an attorney licensed in the state of Texas for a little over five years. Prior to becoming an attorney, I was licensed as a parillegal for 16 years. My hourly rate for family law matters is currently 350 an hour and my parallegal bills at the rate of 150 an hour. I also did and have given Miss Cole um a reduced rate um since we went to the same law school. Based on my experience and knowledge, my fees are reasonable and necessary and customary for this practice area and locality. I spent over 23 hours on this case and that does not include my time for attending trial today. I'm asking the court to award attorney's fees in the m of $6,000 in legal fees. asking that the fees be paid by September 1st, 2026 and if necessary, um, grant Mr. Gray a payment plan. Um, and asking also that interest be accured at the rate of 6% annually until paid in full. And I have included my most recent billing statements in my legal service agreement as exhibits P7 and P8, your honor. >> Thank you, councel. Mr. Gray, would you like to cross-examine Attorney Lark on any of her testimony that she just gave as it relates to her request for attorney's fees? >> Yes, Sh miss Miss Lark. Um, the 23 hours, what what what are those hours, billable hours that you were referring to? >> If I may share my screen, I don't know if you have my exhibit P8 or my itemized invoices that shows where all that time has went and how this work. I do not I don't see your screen. >> Okay. I can share my screen if you like. Let's see. >> Yes, you may share your screen. >> Let me enlarge this a little bit. So, the total time spent was 23.9 hours. Again, not including my time for this trial today. And starting at the bottom back in April 2025, you can see the time that's been spent for me and the employees in my office on this case. and let me know if you'd like for me to stop, but they are all itemized from April 2025 until yesterday's date of preparing for this trial. Okay, >> Mr. Gray, you have any other questions? regarding her fees. I'm sorry. You have any other questions? >> No. No, your honor. >> Okay. Attorney Lark, do you rest? >> I do rest, your honor. >> All right, Mr. Gray, now is your opportunity for you to tell me what it is that you want to know. Just keep in mind your testimony. Attorney Lark is free to make objections to your testimony. Okay. So, just make sure as you're speaking, you you're really listening in for those objections so you can stop and I can rule on them. Okay. >> Okay. So, this is just my opportunity to speak speak my case. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. the honor. Um, for for my child's uh for Bailey's entire life, I've been a a a very involved and um and um present father, a loving father. Um, I I do everything that I can possibly to be present to uh to contribute to my child's development um and to ensure that she has um access to uh my side of the family as well and so that um that she can have a great example of a of a good father um during during my period of time. So, I've been in the military for uh nearly 18 years and I've made a lot of sacrifices and um um a period of time um when I was stationed in Korea when um Ladarian and I separated um I chose to come back to I had the opportunity we lived in Korea and we separated and I had the opportunity to uh come back to Texas and reside in Texas and live as close as I could to my daughter. And so for three years um I did do that and uh during that period of time um Miss Cole made it extremely difficult for me to be a present father and to um have shared access to my daughter despite there being a custody order in place. Um it became very frustrating at times um because I am a loving father and Bailey is my only child. Um when I when I departed uh when I had to PCS from Texas to Washington um someone shared to me um one the the cost of living increased when I moved to Washington state and I could not um afford to with my one paycheck I could not afford to I could not afford to be as be as present as I wanted to. So, I picked up a second job. I'm an air traffic controller. A a friend of mine shared an opportunity for employment. I took the job as two full-time, practically two full-time jobs. I was working for the military um from 6 until about 1:00. I would get off. I would change my clothes. I would drive from Tacoma to Seattle, which is about 45 minutes. I will work from uh 300 p.m. until about about midnight. And I did this for almost two years. >> Objecters to this testimony is being relevant to child support with regard to the second job from years back. I I worked a second job to to be financially >> Mr. Mr. Gray, just speak in terms of the Let me ask Let me say this a different way. Maybe you'll understand it this way. What is it that you want me to do today? I want you to to to to take into consideration travel to to not increase the child support any further because I am already providing I am going above and beyond financially to be one to be present for my child but two I've already set aside additional financial means to ensure that my child is successful and she has resources that I never had um as a child. >> You Thank you. Um I made a note here. You said you gave her a GI bill. >> Yes. >> Is there a certain amount attached to that? >> The value of the amount that she has is $120,000. And when I transferred that over, when Bailey was born, when I transferred that over, I had to continue service. So before Bailey was born, I I was nearly um at the end of my my my service obligation. When Bailey was born, I continued service instead of exiting the military. I continued so that my child will receive those direct benefits. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, I would have been a civilian and back home in Dallas if it not been for me wanting to b directly benefit my daughter. >> Understood. Understood. Is Bailey and And I think her name is cool, by the way, just to let you both know. I mean, I'm a Bailey. spelled different, but I I love her name. >> Is she currently She's nine, right? She turns 10 in July. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Is she involved in any extracurricular activities currently? >> Yes. >> No, your honor. >> Yes, she is. Okay. >> With the school. >> Can I Can I answer your question, your honor? >> Um, well, let me ask. Okay. So, you say yes, you say no. Miss Cole, I'll get to you in when he's done. Okay. Mr. Gray, what activities do you know of that Bailey is currently involved in? >> From my for my awareness, the only thing that I know that she's involved in are activities that are associated with the school. >> She is in um she's in dance with the school. There are no extracurricular activities that she is currently that I am aware of that she is actively participating in. And if if she is, that's a part of the problem that I'm having is how can my child be involved in extracurricular activities and I'm not in the in the loop on it. So that's a part of the frustration that I have as a parent is >> objective to relevance, your honor, with regard to him attending extracurriculars. >> Okay. Um, overrule. I'm just letting him speak on that part because I I needed some information from him. Now, hold on, Mr. Gray, real quick. Miss Cole, outside of dance, what other extracurricular activities is Bailey involved in? >> Yes, ma'am. So, he's correct. She's involved in ballet at her school. She's also involved in step team at her school. Both of those come with associated costs. Um, additionally, Bailey has competed in competitive dance since she was four years old. we did take this year off, but she does have plans to return to competitive dance next year, as well as she's been taking swim lessons, which we stopped those in January because we're looking for a swim team for her to join. >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Cole. Now, Mr. Gray, of the the competitive dance and the swim, that's outside of school, right? >> When she was when she was participating. So, I started the swim lessons and and Miss Cole continued them um recently uh as recent as 20 25 I think early 25 and then it stopped. >> Um >> Hold on, Miss Miss Cole. I'll get to you. I'll get to you. I'll get to you. >> For the competitive dance, Bailey did Bailey uh completed her competitive dance last summer. >> All right. Did you pay for those expenses >> out of the child support? I believe I did. >> No, no, no. Let me let me ask a better question. In addition to child support, did you pay anything related to dance? >> No, your honor. >> Okay. In addition to child support, did you pay anything for swim? >> I I pay for the summer lessons or the the swim lessons when she was with me. So, yes. Okay. Was that last summer? >> No, I only had my daughter for three weeks last summer. It was when we lived in um so a year ago. Um so 2024 is when I I started her swim lessons in summer of 2024. >> Thank you. What about you mentioned child care? What is what did you mean by that? So, sorry because I'm a I'm I'm not married and I'm a service member. Um I reside by myself. Um as a service member, I understand that I have to have a family care plan. So, if anything were to happen to me while the child is my care, um I have to have an emergency contact. Um, in in the past, I would um I would um have a aunt my aunt would uh for multiple years, my aunt would uh would uh volunteer her own time to come live with me for the summer and the exchange would be I would take care of her expenses because it's not most people aren't able to stop what they're doing for several months or extended period of time in order to um assist. And so she was a second secondary care and um now that I moved here to DMV, I don't have a the type of a network or um community. So I have to pay I have to pay for uh uh babysitters if I'm at work or um um I do intend on putting her in summer camp, but that's an added expense. So for a sitter, someone I could trust, I have to pay them about $70 an hour. So even at the minimum, I'm going to have to expend, say for 20 hours, I'm going to have to expend about $1,500 uh this summer alone in in child care services. And that's before before I agree to any summer camps, just as a secondary in case I have to work late or and someone has to pick the child up. Just so I'm clear, that's that um child care expense that's going that's not a possibility that's going to actually happen that you use a Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. You also mentioned travel cost. >> Yes. >> What did you mean by that? >> So when Bailey was participating in activities, I travel on average five, six times a year. There's no question about it. Every year for the last I've been since I left Texas. So I've been out of Texas for four conse four four consecutive years now. Every year I travel five or six times to go back to Dallas to spend time with my daughter. That's flights I have to pay for that on average $4 to $500. That's a car rental every time. So if I no matter if I'm staying there for 4 days or I'm staying there for two weeks, I have to pay for a car rental so I can get around. I don't have to pay for a hotel because I live with family. But my added expenses on top of the cost of living is what is killing me because I just want to be a present father for my daughter. Okay. There was something else. I have another question if you know, but attorney lark may be the better person to answer this. The child support record that Mr. the grade provided showing that he's making payments in excess of $800. Do you know the the reason why it's showing $800 or so dollars versus the 600 that he was ordered to pay in the underlying order? >> She petitioned she petitioned it. She she appealed it and and it increased it from the 600 to the second amount. >> Oh, okay. So, I'm missing that order. Let me see. They didn't initially include his BAH for the 600. And so, yes, he's correct. It was appealed and when it went back, the judge re um um or modified or amended the order to go to the $800 amount. Okay, I see it now. I see the order. Thank you. Thank you all. Okay. Okay. So, the child support is the 800. Got it. Okay, Mr. Gray. Let me see what else I had written. >> Judge, could I say something? >> Hold on one second. He's on the witness stand. >> Oh, that's right. >> Witness stand. Let me see. Mr. Great. You mentioned the seven months, your overpayment in child support. So, the exhibit that you put into evidence, let me pull it back up. H. This should be the second page. >> Yes, thank you. So, it shows >> All right. So the varying amounts depended on the hours the hours that I worked >> right. Which year did you start working and doing those overpayments? >> 2023 and 2024. >> Okay. So the ones in green indicate the overpayment. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Mr. Gray, is there anything else you wanted me to know before I move over to Miss Cole? um the the financial um expenses associated with being a prison father have significantly financially handicapped me and that's why I'm emotional is because I'm I'm I'm providing I'm being a father that I wish I had because nobody showed up for my for my extra activities and I don't want my daughter to have to experience that. But even with the effort that I put in that I put in, I still miss opportunities to be present for her and it hurts and and and that's why I'm crying. >> It's It's okay. It's okay. Matter of fact, someone just walked into the courtroom, so I'm going to take a recess that'll give you an opportunity to, you know, gather yourself and I'll be right right back. Um, Miss Cole, you said you wanted to to say something or you know what, let's do it like this. I'm trying to keep it in order as much as I can. Did you have any questions for Mr. Gray about the testimony that he provided? Uh, Miss Attorney Lark, did you have any questions for your client based on his testimony? >> Um, I'm not sure what she wanted to say, your honor. I'm definitely to ask her with regard to how she wanted to comment on what he said because I have no idea with regard to visitation and how the whole thing happened. So I guess again for I guess if Miss Cole if there's anything you'd like the judge to know with regard to Mr. Gray's testimony >> did you have any questions specifically for me >> or and based on the questions you asked Mr. Gray I guess is >> right. >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry. You said, "Did I have questions for you, your honor, or did I have statements based on the questions that you asked him?" >> Okay. So, I I I want to keep it in order. >> So, your attorney would do the speaking through you. I just didn't know if there was something specific you wanted to ask me as related to what he said. >> No, I didn't have questions for you. It was more so comments related to what he said. >> Okay. Yes. Because I don't want you you say a comment, he'll respond. And I don't want you all getting into it or anything like that. All right. So, Attorney Lur, do you have questions for Mr. Gray based on his testimony? >> No. What I'd like to do then is try and elicit some testimony, I guess, from Miss Cole to try and I hate to say kind of throwing darts at it to see what she's trying to get at or what she's trying to say. So, I do want to have her talk about some things. So, um Miss Cole, I guess if you could talk about um or I guess last summer you heard Mr. great talking about how he's um attended her competitions and stuff like that, Bailey's competition, travel for those things. Did he attend the competition and dance and stuff that was last year in the last couple years? Is there any present for those? >> He attended her last competition in uh what was that? Uh Gavston >> and was that last year? >> Yes. >> Okay. How often has he >> That was her last competition of the season. She has multiple competitions in one season. >> Okay. So, how about how many I guess per year and I'll just go back to like the last couple years has he attended? He typically attends at least one of each uh competition competition season, excuse me. >> And those are during the summer time. >> Uh they start around April and goes to as late as June. >> Okay. And how many of those is and against about one one per year? >> No. So for each competition >> Oh, I'm sorry. Let me rephrase my question. As far as what Mr. Gray has attended, >> oh yes, typically about one per year. Uh there might have been a couple of years where he attended two. >> Okay. And then I guess when he does come to Dallas to exercise his visitations about how long does he stay to your knowledge? >> So it varies. Um he's been here to my knowledge where he's had Bailey for a few hours to uh as long as a week staying here. Um and then when she goes with him for the summer. >> Okay. And then about how many times per year does he exercise? So the order says I think he gets one weekend per month because he's over 100 miles. How many times per year does he actually come to Texas to visit baby? >> On average, three to four times a year. >> Okay. Um, >> okay. Attorney Lark, now I you asked that question. Now I have I I know where I want to go with Miss Cole. Miss Cole, the three or four times that he exercises, >> to your knowledge, um, No. I No. I I don't know. I was I lost how I was going to ask that question. Let me ask you another question. Is it true that he is paid? Is it true that he's overpaid child support at this point? So when he started that second job, I got a letter in the mail from the OAG that they would take from the second job as well as his primary job. And so because of that, in a sense, yes, he has overpaid for that period that he held the second job. >> Okay. Can I just ask a quick question, your honor? >> Yeah. >> So, the last order that you guys had is from 2019. Is that correct? >> Uh, I want to say it was 2018, actually. >> Was 2019. >> Oh, was it 2019? Okay. Yeah. >> But since that time, have you has the OAG or you requested a modification of his child support? >> No. >> Okay. Okay. So, even with the second job, there was no formal modification. >> No. >> Okay. No further questions, your honor. >> Okay. All right. Mr. Gray, is there anything else that you wanted me to know? >> Uh, yeah, J. Um, >> go ahead. Aside from the one trip, Aside from the one trip that Miss Cole made to exchange our daughter at the Seattle airport, I have paid for every flight, every car rental, every meal associated with uh travel and transportation for my daughter. Miss Cole has never paid for a flight. That's why she was unable to tell you when the flight was that that she would have paid for. I pay for everything when it pertains to um travel and and and arrangements with with uh Bailey. And then the other part is when I was working that second job as a air traffic controller at SeaTac, um I again I was working two full-time jobs practically at at the at the peaks of it. >> And um I ended up uh having a a shingles breakout um because of the exhaustion from working those two jobs. Well, to ensure that I was financially >> telling me what I I asked him an open-ended question, so I'm going to overrule that council and let him speak. Go ahead, Mr. Gray. >> Yeah. So, when I was working at the peak of those two jobs, it it that's not a physical job. So, it's not bluecollar. It it takes a lot of mental um um energy away from you. And so working those two full-time jobs to make sure that I could financially be available uh and accessible to my daughter uh put me in in a um in a health crisis um by the end of where I had to ended up quitting that job before um um as a as a result of um creating health issues in a prime of my life. >> Okay. >> All right. Attorney Lord, did you have any additional questions for Mr. Gray? >> I did, your honor. Just one. In our request for production, we asked for bank statements and documents related to expenses related to the child. And you didn't provide any of those documents or proof of these expenses. Did you? >> I didn't see anything about expenses. I don't recall seeing anything about expenses. Otherwise, I would have provided every one of them. >> Good objections. Okay. Again, you didn't produce any documents in regards to any expenses that you provided for your child. Correct. In response to any documents from our discovery request other than >> I don't I don't recall that being a part of the discovery unfortunately. >> Okay. No further questions, your honor. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, let me make sure I'm clear. council, you're asking for the $1,500 or so dollars in an increase in child support since July 1st of 2025. >> Correct, your honor? Um, and I'd even go as far as to say we couldn't get this resolved with the motion to compel. So even at temporary orders, the child support wasn't modified. I think that's from December. So I think if you don't want to make it retroactive back to July and at least ask him temporary orders when we still couldn't get any documents from him with regard to child support. So >> and on temporary his child support stayed the same. Right. >> Right. because he wouldn't produce any documents, your honor, with the motion to compel us. So, we couldn't modify it with no documents. >> My cost of living increased as a result of having to have space for my daughter in a two-bedroom apartment by $500 because of the cost of living here. Did >> you get BAH for your cost of living? I don't know if that would matter your honor. Again, I'm not sure military wise his rent versus what he actually gets from BAH to determine if it's helpful or help some kind of way. >> So when the military when you say >> hearing you council, you speak very fast. So >> sorry. Yes, please tell me I will absolutely slow down. So BAH is what a person a military service member gets when they're living off base. And so if he's getting $3,800 3855 a month for housing, I don't know if it would help to figure out what his rent is that's not covered by the BAH if he's saying it's a hardship for his cost of living. Don't know if that would help is what he's saying. >> If I may I can explain. >> Go ahead, Mr. Gray. Because I'm I'm not very familiar. >> Yeah. So, so the BH is to um is to help because I base pay my base pay is $6,000. I couldn't live off of that alone. Um so they give an additional amount to uh supplement for housing. And so with the housing, my rent alone is $3,100 alone. Um and addition in addition to that, I have a mortgage. So I have a home in uh Colleen that I also have to pay for. So, and it's been vacant for um since um since October of last year. So, not only am I paying um $3,100 in rent, I'm also paying $1,700 in mortgage. And so, when you factor those things in Yeah. And as much travel as I do to be with my daughter, all of those expenses on top of a car note and all my other expenses, that's what puts it in financial constraint. And that's why I can't even afford a lawyer to defend myself right now. >> But you could sell the house to Colleen. Correct. >> Well, I'm not going to say that. >> All right. And I'm like, he could get a cheaper apartment to his point of he can't afford >> I don't Hold on one second. You all I'm You don't You all don't have to You don't have to respond to that, Mr. Gray. and council. I don't I'm not going to even say that to anybody because I I haven't lived in Virginia. I don't know anything about the cost of living. I just know that the DMV is expensive. That's an expensive area in general. So, and I would never tell someone they need to to sell real estate. >> Correct. I wouldn't ask you to order him to do that either. >> So, If I may speak candidly, my issues that we don't have, I don't know if he's making again because of the documents that we didn't get. I have no idea he's actually making from his job. I have no idea where it's actually going. And even with the bank statements, he's blacked out everything. So, I couldn't even tell if they were even his bank statements or not. I mean, he grayed out everything. So, I have no idea if he's making over 2,000 a month or less. You you can see you can see my my balance. >> Let her let her finish. Go ahead. >> Reporter is writing down everything that you all are saying. >> Sorry. >> So, and again to bring my request was make it max so that he would kind of force him to produce some kind of pay documents. But again, he's had several jobs and he's never talked about what he made from when he had those jobs. Didn't learn anything about those until today. And so not knowing what his true income is, it's really hard to figure out if what he's saying is true because he wouldn't produce any documents. >> Mr. Gray, let me let me ask you this. >> The documents that they're requesting, what is the issue with producing those, if any? >> It's a shame associated with it. I I my if I gave her my bank statements. My bank statements say everything that needs to be seen. Every month I'm scratching at the end of the month like 70% of this country to make the ends meet on top of still showing up for my daughter. That's where the conflict lies. You don't need my you don't need my pay stubs to see that every at the end of the month I'm at zero dollars or or $100 left in my bank account. I don't have any extra money. That's it. >> Okay. sold it. Well, let me just say this as it is required, right, by law when you're dealing with child support. It it says it and and she requested discovery. She through discovery she requested financial documents as I understand you're saying you are ashamed because of what you have at the end of the month but she's entitled to those documents and in order to make an accurate decision on whether or not your child support should be increased what that amount should be and whether or not you're going to pay retroactive child support. I need to see them. >> Yes. I I did attempt to send them. I think the file was was too large um of a document. >> Okay. So, this is what we're going to do because I don't I don't want to make a decision today that is without me seeing the full scope of everything like in addition to seeing what your income is. I there there is some provisions in the family code that I am able to take into consideration based on your testimony, but I need both of those combined. I need to be able to see the full picture to get Miss Cole what she's asking for to get you what you're asking for. And that's either side. That's not saying that I'm going to rule favorably to either one of you fully, but in order to know what my decision is, I have to see everything. Does that make sense, Mr. Gray. >> Yes, your honor. >> Okay. So, attorney Lark, what are you looking for? >> Actually, can I um present an impeachment document? >> Well, >> with regard to bank statements. >> Okay. >> That are redacted, but >> I just need I just need to know what you need from him for financials. >> Um paycheck says we would be great a great start. And then his bank statements, the last one I have from February of 2025. Okay. So, Mr. Gray, we need Wait, Attorney L. >> I guess unredacted so I can make sure it's him because I have bank statements. Catch up to him. >> Okay. So, Attorney Lark, pay statements from what period? >> Um, we can't even go from I guess January of last year, January 2025. January 1st of 2025 until present. >> Okay. Did you also get a W2? I got let me see from 2022 and 2023. Yes. >> Okay. So, you need one from 24 and 25. >> Correct. >> Okay. Mr. Gray, >> if you choose, >> Mr. Gray, I need you to provide not only to Miss Attorney Lark, but to my coordinator. You can put it on the same email. Okay. Um, I need you to provide your W2 statement from years 2024, 2025 and your bank statements from March of 2025 through whatever the current period in I think is what May 15th or something. Um, we we need to see those. Okay, >> understood. >> All right. How soon can you get those? because I need to get you all a ruling out and I don't want there to be much time from the moment that you send those documents to me giving you a ruling out. So, in other words, I don't want it to be another 30 days. >> It won't be 30 days. >> Okay. So, do you Let's do it this way. How about I give you a deadline to produce them by and then from the deadline when we get the email I can tell you that within the week of receiving your documents that I will have you all a ruling. Is that fair? >> That's fair. >> Okay. So, let's do this. You produce How much time do you think you need? >> I I I'll have them over to you by No later than Monday. >> Okay. This what we'll do. Today is the 20th. It's a holiday. Monday is a holiday. So, I'll give you until next Friday, the 29th. Is that enough time? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. So, give you till the 29th to close the business. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Central time. 5 p p.m. Central time. And you provide those um to Attorney Lark. And you have my coordinator's email, right, Britney King? >> Yes. Okay, copy her on the email and once I get that from you all, you all will get a ruling the following week. So that'll be June. My deadline to you is June 5th. >> Okay. >> Okay. All right. Now, before we leave, does anybody have any questions about what I said? >> No, your honor. >> Okay. All right. Well, thank you all for your patience and I'll be in touch. >> Thank you. Thank you, your honor. Excused. >> Yes, you're dismissed. Y'all have a good day. You too. >> All right. You too.