What can a parent do when they need a lawyer but cannot afford one? Difference of getting child back or not?

Well that is a really tough situation. I really cant say that she would be affected without a lawyer, but I can say she might have a hard time getting her case taken seriously without one. Many people have won cases without one, but the best results are usually with one. If she really needs a lawyer have her see if she can get a very small loan or make an agreement with the lawyer. I'm sure lawyers have had to come up with compromises between the client and themselves before, as I'm sure they know that not everybody can afford all that up-front. Now, back to your question: The reason there might be a protection order could totally be because of the father making up lies. He could have said that your sister touched him in an inappropriate way, even though that's obviously not the case. He could also be bribing his son to lie about it all so he can get full custody. Like I said before though this is a really tough situation and it is hard to say 100% what the father's motives were and why he is doing this not only to his ex but to his own sons. I hope everything works out and if you can keep us updated. I love hearing success stories! EDIT: Well as you said, the 12 year old is disabled, it's not at all an excuse, but he is obviously having a tough time. Your sister needs to bring that up in the hearing and that little boy shouldn't have anything held against him.

Your sister can sell something, you could loan her the cash, or she could borrow the money. That said, sounds like Dad is taking all measures to protect his biological child from molestation by another child who apparently does not have boundaries on appropriate/inappropriate touching. The protection order is out against the minor child as well as the custodial parent, perhaps because having a protection order against a minor child with mental health issues has to be taken against an adult who oversees that child. As a parent, does your sister expect to regain custody of both children at the same time? Highly unlikely. Any supervised visitation would have to occur when the older child is under the care of another adult. The immediate concern is the safety of the 7 year old who has been molested. The two boys will not live in the same house again.

"There is a possibility of her ex husband lying" . .. there is a possibility of anyone lying, even you . . First you said it was a friend of yours, then you said it was your sister, there's clearly a little bias in your telling of the tale . . There is obviously something going on in the home if the 12 year old is touching anyone "inappropriately" . . . Are you seriously more concerned with your sister getting custody and that child support more than the sexually abused child's well-being? . . . The court will most likely appoint her an attorney considering she is the biologic mother . . .

Your sister can sell something, you could loan her the cash, or she could borrow the money. That said, sounds like Dad is taking all measures to protect his biological child from molestation by another child who apparently does not have boundaries on appropriate/inappropriate touching. The protection order is out against the minor child as well as the custodial parent, perhaps because having a protection order against a minor child with mental health issues has to be taken against an adult who oversees that child. As a parent, does your sister expect to regain custody of both children at the same time? Highly unlikely. Any supervised visitation would have to occur when the older child is under the care of another adult. The immediate concern is the safety of the 7 year old who has been molested. The two boys will not live in the same house again.

"There is a possibility of her ex husband lying" . .. there is a possibility of anyone lying, even you . . First you said it was a friend of yours, then you said it was your sister, there's clearly a little bias in your telling of the tale . . There is obviously something going on in the home if the 12 year old is touching anyone "inappropriately" . . . Are you seriously more concerned with your sister getting custody and that child support more than the sexually abused child's well-being? . . . The court will most likely appoint her an attorney considering she is the biologic mother . . .

Call all tue law offices o go in and see if anyone will do probono work and if no all you can do is take at a loan. Credit union will give out personal loans

Contact legal aide

In a situation like this the protection order would be against the mother as well because the child is in care of the mother. Unless indeed the guy is lying, he may be thinking....why is this child touching his brother, where did he get it from and come to the wrong conclusion that it was the mother. I don't know what state you live in but in my state when something like this happens the child is questioned by themselves with out the parents being in the room. Ok, now, lets pull ourselves back a bit, why is the 12 year old doing this, has be been molested in the past? The therapist knows about this and did not contact officials??!! They are mandated to report such things, so how do you know it was not the therapist that reported it? What is she doing to get the 12 year old child help, what has she done to get him evaluated for why he may be doing this? Those are the important questions here. Next she needs to get a lawyer, she needs to have documentation of what she has done to remedy the problem going on with the 12 year old touching his brother. I'll explain it like this in my state, CPS deals with this type of thing, not the sheriff's office. In other states I know they do things differently but your sister needs to have a plan in place where this will not happen again and she needs to get intensive care for the 12 year old and this may include somethings that she does not want to do. (putting him in a group home, having him hospitalized, etc) She can contact legal aide to get help with a lawyer, she can sell things to come up with the money, she can also look around for lawyers that will do cases pro bono.

In a situation like this the protection order would be against the mother as well because the child is in care of the mother. Unless indeed the guy is lying, he may be thinking....why is this child touching his brother, where did he get it from and come to the wrong conclusion that it was the mother. I don't know what state you live in but in my state when something like this happens the child is questioned by themselves with out the parents being in the room. Ok, now, lets pull ourselves back a bit, why is the 12 year old doing this, has be been molested in the past? The therapist knows about this and did not contact officials??!! They are mandated to report such things, so how do you know it was not the therapist that reported it? What is she doing to get the 12 year old child help, what has she done to get him evaluated for why he may be doing this? Those are the important questions here. Next she needs to get a lawyer, she needs to have documentation of what she has done to remedy the problem going on with the 12 year old touching his brother. I'll explain it like this in my state, CPS deals with this type of thing, not the sheriff's office. In other states I know they do things differently but your sister needs to have a plan in place where this will not happen again and she needs to get intensive care for the 12 year old and this may include somethings that she does not want to do. (putting him in a group home, having him hospitalized, etc) She can contact legal aide to get help with a lawyer, she can sell things to come up with the money, she can also look around for lawyers that will do cases pro bono.