esheato

Divorced as of 2011. What a miserable experience I wouldn't wish on anyone.

I hired a lawyer. He was lazy. I wasn't local. He wouldn't communicate, wouldn't answer the phone, put no effort in, and I swear he was in cahoots with the other lawyer. Anyway, he recommended a mediator, and everything finally looked like I would get a fair shake. Really put the time in and established good rapport and put my relationship with my son on display. She even said to me "it's obvious you and your son have a much better relationship" in comparison to his mother.

Get to court and the mediator flipped on me and pulled the "both of these parents are amazing and the child would excel with either, Judge".

How does that make sense? Isn't it your job to recommend someone, in the child's best interest? She never spent a minute with the child alone to talk with him.

Long story short, she got possession of our son and moved overseas with the military and my relationship with him is crumbling, one day at a time.

I have zero faith in the legal system, lawyers and mediators. I hope I never have the need for legal representation again.

You could say that again...

It was my first experience with the legal system and true to life, the judge gave the child to the mother without even considering the numerous spreadsheets, logbooks, calendars and documentation I compiled. I realized later that my illustrious "lawyer" never even presented those documents to the court. His level of understanding of military life and work was appallingly bad for being in a military town. Hell, most of his cases were family law with military clients.

Riddle me this: how does her attorney ask me if I'll continue the child's religious training when I'm on the stand? What does that have to do with anything in a court of law? Ohh, nevermind, it was in West Texas and those things matter out there. Especially, since she found Jesus after the divorce proceedings began and professed to attend church weekly. Well, guess what? Three years later, court is over, and there's no Jesus anymore....I kid you not.

I was told by my lawyer that the mediators job was to fight on behalf of the child's needs, and make a recommendation to the court.

Seems it was another line of lies.

As to how I got to court in the first place, she cheated numerous times, didn't parent and was more interested in friends and drinking. I pushed for court seeing as I had the big dollar lawyer, ample documentation and the stability of not going overseas. What I didn't figure was the incompetence and lack of motivation of my representative. So here I sit, with Skype being my best friend, and speaking with him when she is gracious enough to allow me time between homework, bath time, dinner, etc. Disgruntled? Pissed? Betrayed? All of the above, buddy.....

I apologize if I'm sore about the whole thing and came off aggressive. I still feel like I got the raw end of this and it won't be over for a long, long time.

Interesting. I appreciate your response.