need help getting kids back!!!!

[maxiskye]

i have been divorced for about 4 years. i had a lawyer for court but he wasnt doing his job. about a week before the court date me and my ex had agreed to do joint custody so i fired my lawyer. my ex had tricked me so i went to court with no lawyer. i got scared and my exs lawyer badgered me and threatened me and ended up giving up my rights.i didnt have a good job and barely had any money. i have been in my kids life under my ex's permisssion. He uses my kids to get what he wants from me. if i dont he wont let me see them. he has taken my kids from women to women from home to home. in very bad home environments. if i am with anyone he threatens me. He has some problems but wont get help. He doesnt deserve our kids. He is going to iraq in july and is giving his parents control of kids while hes gone. I need to know how hard it would be to get some kind of custody or full custody and how much it would cost? i am a good mom. I dont do drugs just work as much as i can to live. i dont have alot of money. my kids wanna live with me. they are ages 9 and 6. everyone sees the only reason he wanted the kids is to get back at me. And after 4 years hes still doing it. Please help

 

[irish223]

i got scared and my exs lawyer badgered me and threatened me and ended up giving up my rights.

Are you saying that your parental rights were terminated, or that you lost custody and have no court ordered visitation rights?

 

[maxiskye]

no court ordered visitation rights. i get them on weekends and stuff but want it through the courts

 

[irish223]

Well, I'm a little surprised that the judge ordered no visitation without a good reason. However, unless you can prove a major change in circumstances that affect your children, you are not likely to get custody. The children's preference will not be a factor in changing custody.

You certainly may be able to get visitation. Can you show that you've had regular, or near-regular, contact with the children over the past 4 years? If so, that would help. You should also consult an attorney.