Husband was given temporary custody of children during a hearing that I was not present for, but he does not want the children and has been ...

Question

Husband was given temporary custody of children during a hearing that I was not present for, but he does not want the children and has been abusive towards me in front of them. Im only given visitation during the day hours only and I am ordered to pay child support. My job is not permanent and he knows this, but he makes a good amount of money. He has lied during this whole ordeal to his lawyer and is doing this to get back at me. He has no grounds for divorce, but I do. I have witnesses as well. My kids were given to a family member temporary for me to get on my feet. I went and got my children not to long ago for them to be in my custody. At the time I didnt know what was granted at the hearing and no paper work has been served to me at all. The father found out that I had them and went and got the paper work filed a few hours later (temporary custody that was judged). Because I allowed my children to stay with a relative for the time that they did, his lawyer presented it to the court at a prior tpo hearing that i was negligent to the children, but the day that he was granted custody he gave the kids back to my relative instead of having them with him so that his mother would be here to watch them until we go to court. The father works rotating shifts every four weeks and it will be difficult for him to have them as well as his violent behavior. I dont know where to begin, but any advice will be helpful at the moment.

Answer

Simple step to begin: get a lawyer. Without one, you have almost no chance. Witnesses and evidence is useless if you don't know how to cross-examine, lay foundations and present it. The longer you do not act and get counsel, the harder it will be to change temporary orders. That means you hire a lawyer Monday (not soon, but Monday). Good luck.

Answer

It is unclear how your husband could have a temporary hearing without you being served. You need an attorney to help figure out what happened, how it happened and how to proceed. If you try this on your own, you more than likely will end up without your children.