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I have two older kids with my ex-husband. Our case has been to the court many times since our divorce just a few years ago.
When we originally divorced, I just wanted it done. I signed whatever he told me and cried when the judge asked questions. He took everything but the minivan and some furniture and the apartment and we split the kids 50/50. He told me to keep the apartment and car (both out of my price range) because he wanted to make sure I always have a home and bragged to people about how generous he was letting me keep the furniture I bought.
When I had my first mental breakdown, I lost my job and eventually housing. I asked my ex to take the kids until I could find a place. Within a few months, I was working part time and had found a cabin within my price range.
During this time, my ex hired a lawyer and they filed paperwork to restructure the custody. The lawyer personally dropped off the papers at my new place himself and told me that he couldn't answer my questions about getting more info (such as when the hearing was and if I needed to respond) because he wasn't my lawyer.
I quickly applied at Alaska Legal Services. In less than two weeks, the lawyer from ALS called me back to tell me I was denied but she wanted to make sure I knew what to do next. She looked up our case on courtview to find that my court date had passed and my ex had been awarded full physical custody.
I had another mental breakdown. However, I worked my way back up to last summer when my ex once again took me back to court so he could take the kids out of FNSB. I fought back and hard. I brought witnesses, evidence of my attempts to keep a relationship with my children, and letters from my doctor and therapist saying that I was done with therapy for the time.
The judge told me to come back this summer and she would work on bringing our custody back to one that is more fair since she understood that I had some mental health problems and that I didn't know which papers to file. The Court Clerk said my binder was the best she had seen since she started working there.
The problem is, I cannot take my ex back to court alone. I did last year and I wasn't sleeping or eating because every waking minute was spent preparing for court. The legal advocate at the shelter wasn't sympathetic and ignored me when I tried to explain my mental health conditions.
I have applied at every single place that helps in these situations but they're not able to help since my life is not currently in danger.
My oldest has recently decided that he wants to live with me full time as well as coming out of the closet. We both worry about how his dad will react to his coming out.
I'm working with a lawyer advocate, who recommended having $5,000 but said $3,000 might suffice.
Please help me keep my kids. We really appreciate any help you are able to give.
When we originally divorced, I just wanted it done. I signed whatever he told me and cried when the judge asked questions. He took everything but the minivan and some furniture and the apartment and we split the kids 50/50. He told me to keep the apartment and car (both out of my price range) because he wanted to make sure I always have a home and bragged to people about how generous he was letting me keep the furniture I bought.
When I had my first mental breakdown, I lost my job and eventually housing. I asked my ex to take the kids until I could find a place. Within a few months, I was working part time and had found a cabin within my price range.
During this time, my ex hired a lawyer and they filed paperwork to restructure the custody. The lawyer personally dropped off the papers at my new place himself and told me that he couldn't answer my questions about getting more info (such as when the hearing was and if I needed to respond) because he wasn't my lawyer.
I quickly applied at Alaska Legal Services. In less than two weeks, the lawyer from ALS called me back to tell me I was denied but she wanted to make sure I knew what to do next. She looked up our case on courtview to find that my court date had passed and my ex had been awarded full physical custody.
I had another mental breakdown. However, I worked my way back up to last summer when my ex once again took me back to court so he could take the kids out of FNSB. I fought back and hard. I brought witnesses, evidence of my attempts to keep a relationship with my children, and letters from my doctor and therapist saying that I was done with therapy for the time.
The judge told me to come back this summer and she would work on bringing our custody back to one that is more fair since she understood that I had some mental health problems and that I didn't know which papers to file. The Court Clerk said my binder was the best she had seen since she started working there.
The problem is, I cannot take my ex back to court alone. I did last year and I wasn't sleeping or eating because every waking minute was spent preparing for court. The legal advocate at the shelter wasn't sympathetic and ignored me when I tried to explain my mental health conditions.
I have applied at every single place that helps in these situations but they're not able to help since my life is not currently in danger.
My oldest has recently decided that he wants to live with me full time as well as coming out of the closet. We both worry about how his dad will react to his coming out.
I'm working with a lawyer advocate, who recommended having $5,000 but said $3,000 might suffice.
Please help me keep my kids. We really appreciate any help you are able to give.
Organizer
Julie Smyth
Organizer
Fairbanks, AK
