well i got the kids back,she left jack with me just before new years eve and i didnt give him back.she got an urgent recovery order out and an application for interim and final orders.i wrote my affidavit and annexed 92 documents then i filed them at the federal magistrates court.i represented myself at the first hearing and the judge left jack with me.at the next hearing today i got my stepson back living with me now as well.a trail has been set for june for which i will have a barrister.the mum told the judge that jack was not my son but he said because he was concieved and born in the relationship and because i have had substantial time with him he didnt want to here about it.how stressfull this is,i thought i would loose because of the dvo she has against me but the judge accepted that it was a one time event and the kids were not involved.my suspended sentence actually worked in my favour,the judge saying that this would further act as insurance that i would be no threat.this is such a big wieght off my shoulders,i hope the trail goes just as well.it also help that the mother lied all through her affidavit and my evidence proved alot of that.

I am so glad my brief instructions were able to spur you into action, and as you see as long as you ditch any lawyers it is not so hard

Where was this in Oz and who was judge [Fed magistrates are actually called judges according to Walters FM]

Only thing that concerns me is you say you have a barrister in June - is that Legal Aid?

im in brisbane,it was at the fed mag courts here.yes the final orders are at trail in june.i can speak well in court but have little knowledge of legislation and acts.i was going to get a barrister through a solicter.im just worried about loosing the kids.i dont want to let them down.i did better than the other barrister that was there.it was very streesfull but i had a lot of evidence with me.is a trail much differant than a hering.i would have to cross examine among other things.there was some new goods act that came out in december 2006.apparently i may have just set a precident for that.legal aid may contibute $1600.00 towards but i understand a barrister is about $2000.00 a day and the trail could go for 2-4 days.i could think of better ways to spend this money if a barrister wasnt neccessary.if theres any more hints you can give me or little tricks,im all ears.the judge said that because jack was conceived and born in the relationship he wasnt ordering any dna tests and because the family violance was an isolated incident and the kids are in no danger,plus the fact im still in the house that the boys grew up in and live near the school that my stepson went to last year,also the mother has to get a mental health assesment in short form for thr courts, that for the interim they should live with me.does this reflect in any way on how the final orders will be.im confident enough to try anything on my own so as not to run myself into the ground financialy,but with 2 young boys,great boys depending on me its a hard decision to make.please help me some more...

Please goto the website I gave above and click on email link [Other Help] - the orig emergency is over so now you need to keep powder dry so last thing kids need is to have the case on a public forum