Got served custody papers today
As the post says, I got served custody papers... and I am depressed as all can be, my ex and I have 2 kids 1 boy(8) and 1 girl(6) we both agreed we'd never go through the courts and well here we are now... back story, we were never married I left after we split and ended up taking the kids because she couldn't handle them so I moved them to NC with me for a year where my living situation wasn't great but after a year I had to move to my brothers house and he was military so he couldn't keep us there forever so I had to move back to Texas to live with my parents in my GMA's old house, fast forward a year and I knew the living situation in my house wasn't great so I agreed to let her take the kids because she moved back in with her parents and they live in a very nice house one of the better school districts in the state because it's what the kids deserved and now here I am a year later being served custody papers cuz she and I argued over text...
My questions are as follows
-I absolutely cannot afford a lawyer I don't make enough money to even cover any costs of a lawyer
- she stated I have a history of neglect, verbal abuse or physical abuse or sexual abuse towards her and the kids and that could not be further from the truth in every regard
- she's trying to make it to where I can't see the kids without a court appointed supervisor, trying to garnish my wages and make me
Pay her lawyer fees
I have proof I've been paying her money for the kids and whatever they needed on top of that
I have witnesses who can attest that her living on her own with the kids the apartments were in absolute disgusting filth
What are my options... please help I don't want to lose my kids they are my only reason for putting up with this shitty life any and all advice is appreciated