I am reaching out to all our friends and family for a helping hand for me to obtain a lawyer for an ongoing custody battle over my three beautiful children. My ex-husband and I have been in a custody war  for a year and I unfortunately, have been representing myself  against two  top lawyers in Paso Robles.
I have been told that the only way to obtain  joint custody is by legal representation. We have always had joint custody and now father has full custody.
I found a wonderful lawyer in Paso Robles who is willing to take $7000 instead of the $10,000 retainer because her heart goes out to me. Any extra money will go towards transportation to be able to visit my children and maybe even children' s school clothes .

    I am a single mom and even with limited funds I have always found ways to give my children whatever they wanted and needed, such as art camps, baseball, swim lessons, etc., and they were always well fed and dressed.
 I take full credit for how amazing my children are. At least I had the first 10 years to give them a good foundation, and to keep good hearts and the ability to be strong through this devastating family crisis. They have not been allowed to see anyone on my side of the family for a year and this is upsetting us all deeply. 
 
    I have learned that by giving their father partial custody over the summer that I put myself in this situation. I was not aware that their father had intentions after he remarried. And now I am fighting a dual income household . I am too trusting I suppose and now my life has fallen apart.

   This custody judgment was never against me nor did they have any proof that I did. In fact the court appointed  lawyer for the children even stated that I am a good mother. As you may all know, I am a full time stay at home mother and have been their primary parenting since birth. I would never try to  take our children from their father nor have I tried. This has been the hardest year of my life and I don't wish this upon any mother. I have lost everything , my children, income, health insurance and now even my ability to drive to Paso Robles where I am only allowed visitation, 4hours twice a month. Because I lost to his lawyers he will not allow them to come home to me. 

   I have exhausted all my financial limits with the 3 hour commute  with lodging and travel expenses just to visit my children . I am  disabled from a car accident therefore I have a limited income. 

   My children also have a younger half brother here with me who they love and miss dearly. Our family has been split apart. Please anything is appreciated and would mean the world for these precious children to have ability to see their mother, brother and extended family all here in Santa Cruz. The worst feeling in the world is to know that their father brings my children to his parents’ house on weekends for them to watch kids. His parents only live 25 minutes from my home and I am not permitted to see them.

    My home is on a huge horse ranch, that my children love and miss. They want so badly to come here.

I can’t explain to you how this hardship has affected me. My heart aches for my children and my children emotional well being is most important to me. I need help to get  legal representation!

 
   Thank you for taking the time to read and hopefully finding a place in your heart to help, maybe you even can relate or maybe you know someone in this situation. This has become a new crisis with custody battles because its not about the best interest of the children, it is who has the most money. No court or judge should be able to make decisions on behalf of family, that is why their father and I always had joint custody. I believe two parents should work together in parenting children as best they can.
Bless you for taking the time to read this, with all my heart, thank you .......