Aidpage is a social
network for
mutual support.
Ask for help
Offer help
Sign up now
Talking about:
6 posts
1,649 visits

Guardian Ad Litem

mjohnso started this conversation
Hey everyone, thanks for reading this. I'm down to the wire, with my back to the wall. I have nowhere else to go with this, so I'm putting out my personal information. I don't do that. Ever. So please understand how desperate I am for a solution.

The situation begins with a crappy marriage to a crappy person. A divorce happens, and since then - 7 years worth of court battles. My ex-husband has taken me to court for everything under the sun. Mutual friends say that I hurt his ego when I left without looking back. Nearly everything he has taken me to court for, he has lost. The few things that he hasn't lost at, have been things like support modification, etc. things that there is no "win, lose" outcome. Since our divorce, I have taken him to court ONCE, and that was for contempt. I won. I won big.

February 8th of this year, I won in court again. I represented myself because I have no money left. March 12th is the next time we go to court for trial. We're going to court because my exhusband is out of options - he has tried to terminate my contact with our children every way possible, but has repeatedly failed. Now he is trying to move out of state. His basis for moving is financial. He says he is in financial ruins (yet buys two ipods, nintendo DS and other things for our children) therefore he must move to California.

On to the nitty gritty... I want to get a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) involved. For those not "in the know" a GAL is an advocate that looks into what is best for the children. It is my belief that a move to California (or anywhere) at this time, would be extremely harmful to our children. Their therapist says that it would likely reactivate their trauma and send them spiraling downward. My ex husband says that it would only be an "inconvenience" to our children. I want to get a GAL involved to get to the bottom of the issue. Should they be moved or not?

I am 100% convinced they SHOULD NOT BE MOVED. I am fairly certain that a GAL would agree with me. In order to hire a GAL, I need to pay her retainer fee. On the low end, I have spoken with Shirley Twohig, and her retainer is $1,400. On the high end, I have spoken with June Hendersen's office, and she is $2,000.

I have no money left. Business has been very slow, Mark has taken everything out of his TSP, we have nothing left in savings, all bonds have been cashed, all parents are tapped out... I come to all of you, asking - begging for help. Could you, and will you put up whatever you can each to help me please? If I could get 70 people to give $20 each, that is the retainer for Shirley.

I definitely cannot pay you back anytime soon. I can promise that I will try my best though, to get the money back to you as soon as I can. It could be quite a few months though, and not everyone at once. Just one person at a time.

Can and will any of you help me please? I don't have anywhere else to turn. I need to raise the money this week, because there is precious little time for the GAL to investigate and prepare for trial.

If not, thank you for reading anyway. I would appreciate all the prayers, vibes, karma, juju, etc. you can send me to help me out.
Click here to add your comment...
xokaymbeexo

Oh, I say that if he has done something to contribute to your thoughts on your kids moving to California(beating,drug abuse,cheating,ect.) then I would'nt move them. But growing up I had no dad, he was there there for me and it was pure Hell. personally I would move to wherever he moved to.

reply to xokaymbeexo
Living4him

Guardian ad litem fees usually would be split between the parents.

reply to Living4him
Anonymous

WHY?  You have destroyed this man, and your children's sense of family...why? What did he do? beat you? abuse your children? drink, gamble, do drugs? You walked away from him and now you want to tear your children away from the only father they have ever known... WHY? Just because you say so? Washington and California are not that far away - why can't they have visitation with their father? He is in financial ruin because he supports his children and thats a bad thing?

Sorry, but I don't buy it. IMHO I think you are a vindictive woman trying to destroy this man, for no reason other than you have the ability to do so. 7 years of court battles is enough. Grow up and be the mother you are supposed to be - do what is best for those children and allow them to see their father. 

reply to Anonymous
shirleybill

You may want to re-check the amount that is needed: http://www.guardianadlitem.org/

Volunteers are available to help and support you at any time. Do check your state listings. 

reply to shirleybill
mjohnso

whoops...  I just read a little further and discovered that I did one of the what NOT to do things.  I apologize for breaking the rules.

reply to mjohnso