Child Custody Tug-o-War

Are you in the midst of a child custody battle? The divorce rate in the United States continues to be around 40-50% for first time marriages (it’s even higher for second-time, and even higher yet for third-time marriages). In other words, you are not alone. It might feel like you are, especially if you are in a position where you can’t afford to hire an attorney, but your soon-to-be-ex has. I’ve been there.

I was once the stay-at-home mom. He was the breadwinner. When we decided to separate, he hired and attorney then filed a petition for sole custody of our two young children and the intent to relocate out-of-state (undenounced to me). I borrowed $3000 to retain an attorney of my own. My attorney filed a response to the Petition and a Request for Production. She hassled me for a few discovery documents. And then she asked for more money. Like I said, I was a stay-at-home mom, like many of us, and I didn’t have money like that at my disposal.

I borrowed from my mom to pay the first retainer, but I couldn’t keep doing that. I was living with her at that point; I couldn’t bleed her for my attorney’s fees. At the rate my attorney was charging ($300/hour) I was paying her $90 to send me a one-line email, and $90 if I sent her a short response, then $90 again if she replied. It was impossible to not incur those charges.

I questioned whether or not I could represent myself if he was represented and I wasn’t.

I ended up retaining a second attorney that I vibed better with. His name is Ronald Johnson. Ronald Johnson ended up not only being my attorney, but my mentor and guide. He has taught me all that I know about family law. It is because of him that I am here today as a family law paralegal offering the services that I wish I had known about when I was going through my own child custody matter.