My ex boyfriend (never married) (father of my twin sons) was extremely abusive. My sons were 8months old when I found a safe exit plan. He went on a week long hunting trip and I called the police to make sure I wasn't breaking any laws by taking our sons to a different state to protect us from anymore harm, they told me that since we were never married and had no custody arrangements I had to do whatever I needed to do to keep us safe. So I packed everything I could fit in my car and took my kids to Florida. When their father found where we were he raped me in front of our children. Then went back to Michigan and filed for full custody.
I filed for a temporary restraining order which after a trial became permanent. First court hearing the judge allowed me to be present telephonically but did not let me speak. She then ordered me to bring my children back to Michigan because, in her words, I ""kidnapped"" my children. (But according to the law since I was not married I had full custody). When I appeared in court I provided her with my PPO which she said ""I don't need to read it, I don't believe you.""
At that time she gave me 3 days to move across the country and to provide my ex with my new address even though I had a PPO. And gave my ex temporary custody. Then 50/50 joint legal/physical custody. They wrote the parenting time schedule wrong so I have my sons only 10 nights a month. I also have to provide all transportation and pay $340/mo child support. My ex make 3x more than I, is an alcoholic, 4 DUI's, and a recovering heroin addict. It has been 4 excruciating years since the beginning of court. My sons have been verbally/emotionally abused by their dad and one of them has had a broken nose which he says his father caused. No one will help me because I don't have $5,000 every few months for a retainer and my ex has an expensive lunatic as his attorney. I don't know where to turn but I know that I have to do something to better my sons' lives.
Judge Megan Maher Brennan Reviews
My ex boyfriend (never married) (father of my twin sons) was extremely abusive. My sons were 8months old when I found a safe exit plan. He went on a week long hunting trip and I called the police to make sure I wasn't breaking any laws by taking our sons to a different state to protect us from anymore harm, they told me that since we were never married and had no custody arrangements I had to do whatever I needed to do to keep us safe. So I packed everything I could fit in my car and took my kids to Florida. When their father found where we were he raped me in front of our children. Then went back to Michigan and filed for full custody.
I filed for a temporary restraining order which after a trial became permanent. First court hearing the judge allowed me to be present telephonically but did not let me speak. She then ordered me to bring my children back to Michigan because, in her words, I ""kidnapped"" my children. (But according to the law since I was not married I had full custody). When I appeared in court I provided her with my PPO which she said ""I don't need to read it, I don't believe you.""
At that time she gave me 3 days to move across the country and to provide my ex with my new address even though I had a PPO. And gave my ex temporary custody. Then 50/50 joint legal/physical custody. They wrote the parenting time schedule wrong so I have my sons only 10 nights a month. I also have to provide all transportation and pay $340/mo child support. My ex make 3x more than I, is an alcoholic, 4 DUI's, and a recovering heroin addict. It has been 4 excruciating years since the beginning of court. My sons have been verbally/emotionally abused by their dad and one of them has had a broken nose which he says his father caused. No one will help me because I don't have $5,000 every few months for a retainer and my ex has an expensive lunatic as his attorney. I don't know where to turn but I know that I have to do something to better my sons' lives.