Legal help

[4wanderingeyes]

I know this is a long shot, but just thought I would check here. Can anyone recommend a family law attorney in or around Sioux Falls South Dakota? My daughter is trying to get a divorce from an abusive husband and she can’t find one in the area that doesn’t want $15,000 or so down. With his past I can’t imagine it would be a hard case.

 

[Telemark]

Sorry to hear that. I don't have any personal experience with divorce or Sioux Falls, but usually when I want to learn about other people's experiences with things I go to reddit and read the discussions. If you click on these links you can read what people say about it:

Google Search

Do they have any assets? First step might be to get as many of the assets as she can and get out of the house. And document everything that is left in the hous with photos and video. Lawyers thrive on evidence and documentation. Not a whole lot they can do without it.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Sorry to hear that 4WE, must be pretty tough to be a dad in a situation like that. Not sure on total financial picture or what kind of abuse you're talking about but there are typically resources for women victims in most cities. Quick google search landed me here: https://www.womenslaw.org/find-help/sd/finding-lawyer/legal-assistance

 

[BuckSutherland]

Sounds like instead of legal help you should be looking for illegal help. There are some fantastic bogs in the Chippewa National Forest. As a father to 3 daughters I hope some dumb SOB doesn't ever put me to the test. Hopefully things work out for the best for your family.

 

[chucker66]

Sounds like instead of legal help you should be looking for illegal help. There are some fantastic bogs in the Chippewa National Forest. As a father to 3 daughters I hope some dumb SOB doesn't ever put me to the test. Hopefully things work out for the best for your family.

I know of some even closer to where 4wander lives LOL I have a daughter as well and I am hopeful she finds a good man.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

Without making it a long story, he was convicted of domestic strangulation, and an assault on a pregnant woman. 2 separate occurrences. They have 2 kids together, and she left him in early November’s and she took the kids with her. He asked if he could have the kids 3yo, and 3 months old for Thanksgiving then he took them and didn’t return them, and my daughter got them back at Christmas and she didn’t let him have them anymore. He got a judge to grant him temporary custody until the court date February 9th, but he also said he was moving somewhere and taking the kids with him. So my daughter doesn’t trust him with the kids, or to ever show up for court, but there is a signed judges order for him to have the kids until court. The judge knew nothing about his past.

Anyhow I live in Northwest Wisconsin, and she lives now in the southern west side of Minnesota, about 30 miles from Sioux Falls SD. But he started the court in SD, so she needs a lawyer that will go there, and she isn’t having any luck. She called about 50 places, and they are ridiculous. To make it worse, I am on a cruise in the Caribbean at the moment, so I am not around to help her in person.

 

[Turkey Creek]

I feel for you and the situation, but there has got to be more to the situation than that. Why would any parent just get temporary sole custody? Why is she being prevented from seeing the kids?

 

[4wanderingeyes]

He filed when he had the kids with him between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and said she abandoned the kids, which she did not, he wouldnt return them to her. But there was no court order, and SD law says they will reside with the majority care taker, that was why he said she abandoned them. Being there was no order, it was basically who had possession until the court date which is February 9th. But he told the judge she abandoned them, so the judge granted him temporary custody.

 

[homerj]

$15K is the high end of retainer fees according to a few web searches. I'm guessing the attorneys are picturing an ugly process and are quoting high because they know its going to be a long, drawn out case.

 

[bigboreblr]

Thinking she need an address is SD. Custody might be because the kids are in their home state where the divorce is filed.

something with UCCJEA

Kids get as little as a mark on them, call it in. Maybe have a kid's friends parent keep an eye out for them if they can.

Just him, new girlfriend around? Sometimes that is a violation of custody.