Consent to travel, followed by a dispute over staying
Wade testified that he let Amanda take the girls to Florida for about a month over Christmas 2021. He also testified that he did not agree to their remaining there. Amanda’s lawyer later wrote that Wade knew about discussions of a move and a visa application. Both accounts should appear so readers can see where they agree and where they differ.
Wade’s testimony: He agreed to the initial trip but said he had no suspicion they would stay. Trial transcript, 7-46–7-47
Amanda’s lawyer’s draft response: It says Wade consented to December travel and had been told of relocation discussions since February. June 14, 2022 draft letter, p. 1
The letter also says that border officers permitted the family to enter the United States and disputes an allegation that Amanda entered illegally. Draft letter, p. 1
A parenting proposal and unresolved financial disclosure
The June 14 draft letter does not describe a father actively participating in schooling and paying the girls’ expenses. It says Wade had not been interested in their schooling since separation and had not provided income disclosure or paid certain additional expenses. Yet Amanda offered regular parenting time and to waive past and future child support claims. The document does not say that refusing child support prevented Wade from recovering custody.
According to the draft, Wade had not provided income disclosure or paid the listed additional expenses since shortly after separation. It also says Amanda and Drew covered the girls’ health expenses. Amanda had already offered to waive retroactive expenses to reach an agreement; the final proposal would waive retroactive and ongoing child support and those additional expenses.
It proposed four two week parenting blocks each year and stated that Amanda would pay travel costs while the children’s visas were pending. We do not have Wade’s reply to this draft or a signed final plan in this source set.
What the emails actually say
Amanda’s screenshot of her message says she supported a relationship with Wade but wanted a signed parenting plan before a visit. Wade’s response rejected a plan and used hostile language. These screenshots provide a sharper comparison than speculating about what he cared about.
Amanda says she wants a signed parenting plan and raises concerns about visas and travel.
Wade says he will not sign a parenting agreement and directs profanity at Amanda.
Amanda says Wade delayed passport renewal forms; the screenshot does not independently establish his reason.
Amanda also described a change in the girls’ visit frequency after Paula moved in, and later reported conflict between the girls, Wade, and Paula. Those are Amanda’s accounts, not independent findings about Paula’s motives.
Amanda discusses Paula moving in and a change from more frequent visits to every other weekend.
Amanda says the girls spoke to her about Wade and Paula.
His account under oath
Wade said he sought help from authorities. He also described Paula handling much of the dispute while he kept working.
Wade testified that he contacted law enforcement, immigration officials, and a Canadian elected official, and said no one helped bring the children back. Transcript 7-48.
Paula received the Horvaths’ call. Wade described meeting them for dinner and then writing an affidavit in support of Byron. He described this as a new contact, followed by the affidavit; he did not describe knowing Byron beforehand. Paula testified she did not submit an affidavit in Byron’s case. They later wrote separate sections of a statement addressed to a federal judge. Transcript 7-48–7-51; 5-23:14–21; 5-166:11–5-167:3.
On cross examination, he said he knew of no arrest of Amanda related to the move. The court then struck the lawyer’s question and Wade’s answer about whether she had broken a law. Transcript 7-64–7-65.
Wade said the only evidence he had that Liana influenced Amanda’s move came from what his daughters told him. He recalled no other reason for Liana’s name to come up at the dinner with the Horvaths beyond the two women being her students. Transcript 7-65–7-67.
The division of labor, in Wade’s words: he relied on Paula for much of the online dispute and said he put his head down and went to work while she dealt with it. Transcript 7-35.
Paula’s account: she joined a group call to gather information and acknowledged that she and Wade had assumed Liana was involved in Amanda’s move. Transcript 5-21 and 5-48.
These transcript references are page citations. The transcript itself is not linked here.