I have no record ,I don't drink I own my own home and I am employed.My ex has a drinking problem which my son will verify and her boyfriend smokes pot in the backyard.My son wants out ,he is tired of being yelled at all the time, My ex hates the fact that me and my son have a great relationship. Should I try this without a lawyer?
Suggestion:
No, you shouldn't bother without a lawyer. A judge won't care if your wife yells at your son sometimes. He may think it shows she's the parent who does discipline and you're the lax one. If your son isn't being severely abused or neglected, courts do not much care about dads getting custody. If it's only your son to say your ex has a drinking problem, I don't think you'd have a case.
But you have an important problem and concern and goal, so I would certainly talk to a lawyer. That will be free or maybe cost $50 for an initial consultation. If he says you have a good shot, then you have to weigh whether you want to make a big sacrifice to get custody of your son, who may change his mind about where he wants to live in a year.
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Go to Legal Aid. They are cheap to free.
You NEED a lawyer.
If it is important to you, find a way to get a good lawyer. Seriously. You might win without one, but your chances are much better with competent counsel. Maybe you can just consult with one without having to hire. Usually, a teenager can choose which parent they want to live with, within reason.
I would not do that but that is me. I think with something so important to you, you do not want to loose. See if there is a low cost or sliding scale lawyer online. You really do need a lawyer.
Your chances of gaining full custody are much higher if you have legal aid on your side. You may be able to afford a pre-paid legal service for $26/month…
When you sign-up for the pre-paid legal service they will match you with a reputable law firm in your area and they will work with you on your legal situation. They will represent you in court, look over and prepare legal documents, and answer all the questions you have.
If you want to learn more about the pre-paid legal service I use, you can visit their website here http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/jeffcilenti
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