What can I do without a lawyer
I am in a high conflict custody case with an alcoholic father and a toddler. Neither of us are currently represented. I can't afford a lawyer & was receiving LSR through local organization that supports women who are victims of DV, but they recently dropped their legal program and i lost my lawyer in March. He hired a lawyer initially last May & ran out of money after 5 months and lost his lawyer in October.
We have a temp order in place. Joint legal, i have full physical. I provide insurance, he is supposed to pay child support,half of daycare and medical bills. He has parenting time on the weekend that includes one overnight and must prove he is sober during that time by wearing a alcohol monitoring bracelet that is similar to scram or soberlink.
I also have a DV protection order in place, which he has violated 4 times, he has been charged with disturbing the peace and most recently was charged with felony stalking and felony violating protection order after tracking devices were found on my vehicle on two separate occasions. He has hardly worked in 2026 and has been in jail since March due to the new felony charges. He obviously is behind on child support & his half of daycare and medical bills which has put a big strain on my finances.
Before my LSR ended, my lawyer told me to file default parenting plan with mediation/Conciliation court and then file a default paternity,custody and support order with Judge granting me full custody. She drafted everything for me, I submitted default parenting plan and it was not accepted.
I don't know what to do from here. Without a parenting plan approved i don't think we can get a final order.
If he were to be released from jail tomorrow i fear there will be a lot of conflict. He wasn't complying with alcohol bracelet before he went to jail. When he gets out he will have no home,no job and no car. How would he even exercise his parenting time?
All of this has caused a lot of stress and anxiety for myself and my daughter absorbs that stress as well. Her doctor had me get her into play therapy due to the trauma she had experienced while her dad still lived in the home and the stress since we split. She has sleep regression, outbursts, eating hair(pica) and our bond and attachment suffered as well. With therapy, we are finally getting back to a good place and I dont want to put her through anymore stress.
Any advice on to proceed without representation would be helpful. Or suggestions on how to obtain representation on a very limited budget. I appreciate everyones time and input. Thanks for listening.