I started my separation and battle three years ago. In the first six months of separation things were good. One day I was asked to go to baby sit at her house when I found Maruajia in her kitchen in a place where the kids who were one and three could easily accsess. When I contacted Social Services they refused to help me and told me I should Talk with her about it.

I never seen my kids after that point for six months. I finally gained alawer who convinced me at the time that there was nothing I could do. He did however get me some visitation and finalized the divorce. My visitaion however had been reduced from 40% of the time to 10% of the time. I had been Paying her a amount for the childre of $800.00 per month when the divorce judgment was done it stated thet I owe her 600.00 per month which I payed.In this oreder called the minutes of settlement it states that I am to pay to the Director of Maintenance enforcement. I called Maintenance and they told me that I had to pay her until she opened an account with them. I could not open an accout. On christmas of 2002 After I had already payed my support I recieved aphone call. She told me she needed more money for a perscription I tiol her I could not do this. she told I would not see thekids if I refused this.

I never seen the kids again fo about a month. I called the lawer who had been working on this and told him I needed apolice enforcable oreder. he gave me a divorce and collereary relife oder and said this would work. after in forming her of the order, my accsess resummed. accses stayed as is for a while until the summer of 2002 when we had ablow up over long weekend which was quickly worked out.

Alll was good untill Feb of 2003 I had recently become involed with a new women with four children. during the time previous to this I had been concerned with hygene issues for my Children. they would come over with filthy teeth dirty clothes and bowl mvements dryed up in there short, sometimes stinking like Alcohol. My son had not had a hair cut in years and I had enough and with the supprt of my new spouse I decided to take a stand. I shaved his head. At the same time this had happened the transmission in my vehical had gone. With the amount I was making and the amount need for child support I was not ablt to repair it. I asked that she help with transporttaion and she refused . She with held the children. I went to use the police enforable order I had and the police thold me it would not work because no where did it state it was police enforcable. I was screwed by that old lawer and there was nothin I could do. Being broke I had no choice but to go to leagal Aid. I got a lawer fast but the lawer would not take the time to help me. I had astrong case with hygene , photographs to back this as well as letter she has writen and the plane fact she broke all other court orders so I went for soul custody. I even went every weekend to try to pick up my kids and she rused me accsess

The lawer I had made me feel confident at first but as I said she never put the time in. she told me one month befor trial that her firm just hired a lawer who used to represent my ex years ago. she didnt think she could represent me but it would be up to my ex. on the court date my lawer told me that she didnt tell my ex yet and if she arguees it the she will not be able to represent me. I would have to represent my self without knowing what to do. luckly for me my ex diddint arguee it and the case went before the judge I was excited to here what my lawer would say. when the judge asked she said your honor this is my client and he wants soul custody. that was it. when the judge asked my ex she went on about good of amother she was ans so on and the judge said he would give an answer in aweeks time. All the evidevce I had to prove her affidavidt was a lie all the proof I had to prove advice andmy lawer didnt bring it up. I was hoping that the judge would see what I had but he didnt. He blmed me for everthing and said that she was in the right for with holding the kids and he would not grant sole custodt but did grant a police enforcable order.

Three months I didnt see my kids. During this time I was not paying child supprt due to finacial restraints . She had opened an account with maintnance enforcemenent caliming I had oweed her more that I did. I spoke with them the asked for the cheques to prove it. I supplied them with the proof and the told me not to worry about paying till the investigation was over. months went buy I phoned them and they said the never recieved the cheques t. then I phoned again and after several letters I kept hearing different stories. I was finally told about childsupprt resoulitio which is a mandatry mediation t try and get it lowered. My ex never showed up for the meeting. I was forced to get anouther legal aid lawer to work this issue out. When speaking with the lawere I also mentioned the fact that I do not get more then 10% of the time with the kids. he said he would try to change that. . after the court day he phoned me to tell me I got time in the summer and fathers day for only three hourswhich was good but he forgot about christmas . Christmas was only two weeks away and I wasnt sure if I was going to see them. as for child supprt he did get it lowered but would not erase the arrrears because my lawer forgot th proof. apon trying to get the proopf from my previous lawer who had the only originals copies remaining cause maintenanece lost there copies. the lawer was unalble to located the cheques in question . I lost my evidence. All I have know is an affidavit from my ex stating that maintenace had called telling her they recieved the cheques . I hope this will help.

I know there are several others who have been screwed worse that me and the time has come to make the hear the fathers so lets speak up.