hisebaseta
New Member
I am desperate. I have no money for an attorney, and my ex filed for an expidited hearing due to school matters. I have three children, two of which belong to my ex husband. My ex makes A LOT more money now than when we were divorced and told me if I ever filed for a modification, he would take my kids away from me. I told him in November that I filed. We received paperwork at the end of June/early July. On July 28, I received a call from an attorney stating that my ex is seeking custody of my daughter. Not both children, just one. On the grounds that she wanted to live with her dad. She told me she had said that, but that it was a long time ago and that she wants to remain at home with me, her stepdad and brother and sister. She informed her father of that also, but he is still pursuing. I received a letter from the attorney stating that I was not following state mandated guidelines for parenting time. My ex didn't receive his two week summer visit this year. Of course, he never called to set up said visit. For the last ten years he never took advantage of his extended summer visit. For the last nine, he never would even call throughout the week to check on the kids. Before our divorce was even finalized, I lost our house in foreclosure. I was unemployed, I had lost my job for missing too much work due to not having child care available. I asked him to take his children in until I could get back on my feet and find us a suitable home. He said no. I was the victim of domestic abuse. My children saw a lot of bad things happen to me. I asked him to take his children in so they would not have to endure all of the trauma associated with the abuse. He said no. During the same time frame, my sister's decided to step in and pursue custody of the kids. They asked their father if he wanted to have custody before they got a lawyer. He told them no. My daughter and I are both bipolar and she also has post traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder. I have her seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist. I monitor her meds very closely. My children are well fed, clean, always have their health and dental needs attended to. I had child services called on me twice. My daughter went to school and told them I beat her with a belt 40 times. I admit I spanked her with a belt. She left the house while I was sleeping for work. When I got up to make dinner all three kids were gone. The little ones had gone out looking for her. I definitely did not spank her 40 times. Not even close. Child services found me guilty of no wrong doing. This past year, I saw something in my daughter's earlobes, I went to go brush her hair back and she ducked her head and I guess there was contact. She gave no indication at the time that I had even touched her let alone hit her. She went to school the next day and said I punched her in the nose. Child services were called and again, they found me guilty of no wrong doing. I told the case worker I was concerned for my daughter she was threatening suicide. I was made to take her to the psych ward of the local hospital. My ex is using all this against me. If he would have given them a home when asked maybe she wouldn't be suffering as much mentally. I don't know. All I know is he is trying to split up my three babies. We are a team. We have been through so much together. My daughter doesn't even want to go. I have no lawyer and no means of retaining a lawyer. I'm so afraid I am going to lose my baby. If anybody can please help our family, please. I'm so desperate right now.
