Options when one cannot afford a lawyer?

V wrote:

That was a mistake and I would think that would be obvious had you read
the rest of my message. My friend has 85% custody and the father has
15%. I believe that he sees them two weekends a month.

I would appreciate an apology from you.

I don't have anything to be sorry about. What you wrote looked like
inflammatory BS, and I treated it as such. If you don't like it, you
should learn to proofread. I don't have your OP in front of me, but
there were other elements in it that looked suspicious also.

I'll be willing to back up a bit and give you a fair shake, since you've
replied and there is the possibility that you are being above board.
How's that?

Thanks.

OK.

- Ron ^*^

"V" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for responding, teachrmama.

The 15% wasn't forced on him. He used to have 50% custody, but
gradually started giving up more and more of his time to pursue other
interests such as travelling around the world with his girlfriend.

He makes TWICE as much as my friend and he keeps taking her to court
every few weeks to get the support reduced more and more. Initially,
she was paying HIM which is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
But she fought and fought and after two years they finally ruled that
he should pay her instead. It's unfortunate that back pay isn't allowed.

Every few weeks? That's weird. Where I am (and I thought that it was a
general rule everywhere), unless there are major changes of circumstance,
you can't go back to court to request a review for at least 2 years. And it
takes several months to even get a court date. As for her paying him,
unless somebody managed to lie in their financial statements, I can't see
how she could ever have been paying him if he makes twice as much as her.
Does he work under the table?

V wrote:

: He makes TWICE as much as my friend and he keeps taking her to court
: every few weeks to get the support reduced more and more. Initially,
: she was paying HIM which is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
: But she fought and fought and after two years they finally ruled that
: he should pay her instead. It's unfortunate that back pay isn't allowed.

This sounds suspicious. Courts will not allow changing of Child Support
amounts unless there is a significant change in circumstance. I don't believe
the facts are being accurately portrayed in the OP's claims.

b.

HI everyone. I guess I shouldn't have went into so much detail. I
obviously don't have every single little detail right. It was just my
attempt (albeit an emotional one) to give a bit of background on the
situation. I appreciate your responses thus far, but below is the heart
of my message and it seems that that was lost somewhere along the way.

"To those of you that made it through this far, I guess the point of my
message is that I would love some advice on figuring out what my
friend's options are. She can no longer
afford a lawyer and I feel that she needs someone or something that can
help her get through this. She and her children are being yanked around
and it's just NOT RIGHT! I would love to help her, I just have no clue
where to begin.

Any ideas?"

Thanks.

-V

"V" wrote in message
oups.com...
HI everyone. I guess I shouldn't have went into so much detail. I
obviously don't have every single little detail right. It was just my
attempt (albeit an emotional one) to give a bit of background on the
situation. I appreciate your responses thus far, but below is the heart
of my message and it seems that that was lost somewhere along the way.

"To those of you that made it through this far, I guess the point of my
message is that I would love some advice on figuring out what my
friend's options are. She can no longer
afford a lawyer and I feel that she needs someone or something that can
help her get through this. She and her children are being yanked around
and it's just NOT RIGHT! I would love to help her, I just have no clue
where to begin.

Any ideas?"
======
What does she do for a living? Can she go back to school and increase her
earnings capability?
======

Thanks.

-V

Well I've been reading through the Posts.. I don't about down there in
the States but I know here in Canada in the courts themselves we have
whats Family Duty Counsel.

They are a free service offered to parents involved in Custody, Child
Support.. ext.. all to do with Family Law.. they are not allowed to be
your Lawyer, however they will give you Sound Legal Advice, and point
in the correct direction, and even go as far as to help you write up
the needed documents..

You might want to take a walk down to your Local Courthouse... and
find out from the Family Law Counter whom you can talk to.. they will
probably be able to point you in the correct direction.

Gini wrote:

What does she do for a living? Can she go back to school and increase her
earnings capability?


She does administrative-type work. She was thinking about school not
too long ago, but she recently started a new job a few months ago that
is much better than her previous one. That has been great for her and
has given her confidence a bit of a boost and as well as an increase in
earnings.