Advice needed!!!!

[briansbaby]

Ok this is my situation...I have custody of my 2 girls ages 8 and 9. I was awarded custody 5 years ago. Their father lives in Minnesota and I just moved to Alabama. I recently was served papers stating that he was taking legal action to get custody. We were both supposed to appear in a mediation session on June 18, 2009. I flew from Alabama to NC to attend this..he did not. I am scheduled to appear in court in NC on Aug. 31, 2009 for the actual trial. My problem is I can't afford an attorney and I can't afford another trip to NC. What should I do? If I don't show up won't he automatically win? I just don't know what to do. This man has not been in my girls life since they were born. It's not fai rthat I should lose my girls because I can't afford a lawyer.

 

[Duranie]

You cannot just take the girls out of state though. Does Dad live in NC? What state is the order out of? Were you ever married to him? If you do not show up you could lose in default. You really need to get an attorney or show to the hearing and prove that the move is in the girls best interest. If you went to court and was given custody, something tells me Dad has had some involvement. Does he pay support?

 

[briansbaby]

Their father lives in Minnesota and has lived there since 1 month after I left him 6 years ago. (He meet a woman who lived there while we were married and when i left he moved)

 

[briansbaby]

The moved was in the best interest of the children. My mother and her side of the family live there, and that provides me with a wonderful support system I don't have to worry about dishing out money to daycare centers, if I have to work late they are there, and just offer emotioal support to me as a single mother.