Charles Wardlaw, Special to the Daily Report (Reprinted with permission)
When I first met Stacy, she told me the father of their 1-year-old daughter had threatened to end the child’s life. He told her if she made him pay child support, it would be the worst thing she ever did.
As Stacy and I spoke about her life, she was overcome with emotion as she realized that he had both the intention and means to make good on his threats. While Stacy had found the strength to apply for an ex parte 30-day temporary protective order (TPO), it was clear she would need my help in securing a longer protective order to free her from abuse.
In the days leading up to the TPO hearing, Stacy called me often. Every conversation was filled with what she thought were “golden nuggets” that would ensure she got the result she and her daughter needed. We figured that the father was certain to disavow that he ever made a threat against his own daughter. Every time Stacy called, I listened patiently because I realized just how important this hearing was to her. In addition to providing her with legal advice and counsel, she needed me to serve as a counselor and reassure her that everything would be OK.
Compounding her stress was the fact that up until she filed for the 30-day TPO, the father had helped her pay for child care costs. The amount he contributed was meager, but it was indispensable to Stacy; it allowed her to support herself and her daughter. When I told her that we would seek child support in the TPO, I looked her in the eyes and promised that I would do my best to make sure that both she and her child were protected.
On the day of the hearing, I showed up to the courthouse early. I was anxious to ensure that there was no contact between my client and the father, and I imagined and planned my actions in a worst-case scenario. Once Stacy arrived, we went over the strategy for her direct examination. Essentially, she needed to tell her story—all of it —and explain to the judge exactly what she wanted.
Stacy told her story just as we planned, and during her testimony, the same emotions surfaced. As we expected, the father denied making such threats, but it was obvious to everyone in the courtroom that this situation demanded relief.
The court granted the TPO and awarded child support in an amount that was higher that what the father had contributed monthly to date. The judge also emphasized the need for further counseling for the family, and by the end of the hearing, the mending process had begun.
I was relieved that Stacy got the protection and financial support she needed, and I am so proud of the role I played in securing safety and peace of mind for her and her daughter.
Read the orignal article here.