The family of Michelle Parker believes they may finally be on their way to getting answers about her mysterious disappearance.

In court Wednesday a judge denied Dale Smith’s attorney’s request to put a hold on the proceedings, opening the door to questioning Smith about Parker’s disappearance.

Parker was last seen dropping her children off at Smith's house in 2011.

Orange County Judge John Marshall Kest listened as an attorney for Dale Smith – Parker's former fiancée – argue that his client should not be forced to answer questions in a wrongful death suit filed by the woman’s family.

Attorney Tom Sadaka said any questioning of his client should only happen after the criminal investigation in Michelle’s case is complete.

The judge didn’t buy it.

Judge Kest ruled against a motion to dismiss as well as the stay, opening the door to having Dale Smith deposed. That's a step Parker’s family hopes will finally bring some answers to her disappearance.

“We’d like to know what he has to say. Let him explain himself," said Parker family attorney John Dill. "But if he doesn’t want to, if he wants to take his Fifth Amendment privilege that is his right. We will go forward with this case and we plan to win this case.”

Michelle’s mother, Yvonne Stewart, said she just wants to know what happened to her daughter and believes the judge’s ruling brings her one step closer. 

“You never know how it is going to go but you believe that justice will prevail," Stewart said. "You believe that God will do things that are right, and this is right.”

Stewart said she is also fighting to see her grandchildren. She said she has not seen or spoken to Michelle’s twins since Dale Smith moved with them to Tennessee.