Optional Information

State/Country relating to Question: Missouri

Already Tried:
I have tried coaching my daughter with what to say to no avail. I am worried now because the judge is expecting my daughter and an attorney to arrive on Sept. 14th. We cannot afford one; we got a quote for $750 all upfront before the lawyer will even take the case. Would it be disrespectful to ask for a continuance on Sept. 14th. I am losing sleep over this. The allegations on the ex parte are half-truths. Yes, my daughter did call a number of times to the petitioner's residence, but for good reason. The petitioner is the girlfriend of my daughter's ex-boyfriend with whom she had a child, born March 10th. I believe this is an attempt to make my daughter out to be a bad mother to keep her away from her own child (her ex-boyfriend who is on the birth certificate, refuses to allow my daughter to see or have any contact with their baby. I have tried involving DFS and they wrote out a child order of protection which we took to the courthouse and filed with the judge. However, the judge threw it our for a reason unstated--perhaps my daughter misworded something. I should have helped her with the form which I now regret. I called DFS again just before the holiday weekend (Labor Day); nothing on that as yet. I have attempted to enlist the help of the local sheriff's office, but they say they can't help. Basically the ex-parte is an attempt to keep my daughter away from her own baby for ever. I need serious help. The ex-boyfriend is violent; I have three sheriff's reports for his violence against me when he lived here with my daughter. The latest incidence was the father shattering my van's back window--which he paid for after reporting it to the sheriff's office. The father has a history of violence and wrapping cars that he shouldn't be driving (he has no license) around trees. I only hope my granddaughter doesn't get injured or killed when he is driving illegally or when he is assaulting his girlfriend (frequently).