Attorney or no?

[dolfan82]

AZ

Hello, today I had an app. with a local family attorney regarding my child custody case. He told me that he would charge me $1000 to represent me in my next court date in June. I am currently on supervised visitations, twice a month. Would it be necessary for me to hire him? (to get me more days, hopefully unsupervised visitations) or would the judge be more inclined to honor my request since I have been meeting his expectations so far.

Thank you.

 

[Antigone*]

AZ

Hello, today I had an app. with a local family attorney regarding my child custody case. He told me that he would charge me $1000 to represent me in my next court date in June. I am currently on supervised visitations, twice a month. Would it be necessary for me to hire him? (to get me more days, hopefully unsupervised visitations) or would the judge be more inclined to honor my request since I have been meeting his expectations so far.

Thank you.

Why do you have supervised visits?

 

[Proserpina]

Why do you have supervised visits?

Post hx suggests absent parent being reintroduced to child...

 

[mistoffolees]

AZ

Hello, today I had an app. with a local family attorney regarding my child custody case. He told me that he would charge me $1000 to represent me in my next court date in June. I am currently on supervised visitations, twice a month. Would it be necessary for me to hire him? (to get me more days, hopefully unsupervised visitations) or would the judge be more inclined to honor my request since I have been meeting his expectations so far.

Thank you.

1. What (exactly) does your court order say about visitation and when supervision will end?

2. What is the hearing for in June?

3. Have you completed all the requirements regarding reintroduction?

4. What is it that you hope to accomplish?

 

[dolfan82]

It is an intro. to his life. Haven't had contact with him for 3 years. The order its for supervised visitations at a site for every other Mon. The June's court date its to evaluate how I'm doing with my orders. So I'm expecting to have al least ordered unsupervised parenting time.

I expect to spend as much as time of possible with my son to work on a loving relationship. I would also like to have a healthy rational relationship with the mother.

 

[Proserpina]

It is an intro. to his life. Haven't had contact with him for 3 years. The order its for supervised visitations at a site for every other Mon. The June's court date its to evaluate how I'm doing with my orders. So I'm expecting to have al least ordered unsupervised parenting time.

I expect to spend as much as time of possible with my son to work on a loving relationship. I would also like to have a healthy rational relationship with the mother.

You see your son twice a month? For how long each time?

(I have a feeling you may be disappointed if you're expecting unsupervised parenting time as early as June)

 

[CJane]

Per your posting history, you haven't even started these visits yet. So, if you start this coming Monday, you'll see your child what, 3 times between now and June?

How old is the child?

 

[dolfan82]

Yes, I have not started yet, I doubt that it would start this Mon. since the site has nt assigned a case manager yet :/

Next court date is sched. for June 21st. I don't know how much consideration would the judge take in me following his orders. I have done everything he has ordered till this day, the supervising site is the one holding the visits off so I feel its out of my control.

That is my dilemma, would hiring an attorney benefit me in him putting a better case for me to have more parenting time hopefully unsupervised.

The visitations are sched. for 3 hrs on those Mondays.

 

[Proserpina]

Yes, I have not started yet, I doubt that it would start this Mon. since the site has nt assigned a case manager yet :/

Next court date is sched. for June 21st. I don't know how much consideration would the judge take in me following his orders. I have done everything he has ordered till this day, the supervising site is the one holding the visits off so I feel its out of my control.

That is my dilemma, would hiring an attorney benefit me in him putting a better case for me to have more parenting time hopefully unsupervised.

The visitations are sched. for 3 hrs on those Mondays.

Honestly, supervised visitation would be in the child's best interest.

You're a virtual stranger - he needs to be reintroduced slowly, and in a situation where he's comfortable.

 

[dolfan82]

Yeah, that's what I figured. The only problem I have is having my parenting time through the visitation site. The mother declined to have her supervised me or one of her family members. This site has incredibly high fees per hour that I can't really afford since I have started making the CS payments.

I would not mind doing supervised visitation, but I would rather do it without any fees.

 

[Proserpina]

Yeah, that's what I figured. The only problem I have is having my parenting time through the visitation site. The mother declined to have her supervised me or one of her family members. This site has incredibly high fees per hour that I can't really afford since I have started making the CS payments.

I would not mind doing supervised visitation, but I would rather do it without any fees.

Without a doubt, I'm sure you would!

But that's really out of your hands.

If the supervision center has been selected as the place where visitation should take place...then you really have to basically suck it up.

Do whatever it takes, Dad. Make it work, for your son's sake.

 

[CJane]

How old is the child?

 

[mistoffolees]

Without a doubt, I'm sure you would!

But that's really out of your hands.

If the supervision center has been selected as the place where visitation should take place...then you really have to basically suck it up.

Do whatever it takes, Dad. Make it work, for your son's sake.

However, OP can certainly ask the judge for non-paid supervision during the June hearing. If OP comes in prepared with some options, the judge might just grant something different.

 

[dolfan82]

He is 4, 5 in Oct.

 

[CSO286]

Spend that $1000 on those supervised visits, get to know your child and then appear without an atty, show the court you are in compliance and request a graduated parenting plan. Ask the the judge to outline the plan s duration, then stick to it like glue. Follow said plan and step up to unsupervised and then longer periods of time. It will most likely take you at least 6 months before you will get unsupervised overnights.

Voila!
You get what you want and don't have to pay an attorney.

You do have to commit to building a relationship with this child, though. Which in my opinion, is much harder work, but worth way more in the long run.