court decision today

Thanks for all of your advice. We went to court today asking for sole legal and physical custody of my step son. Mom has hardly visited him for the almost 2 years my husband and her have had shared custody of him with my husband having primary residence. (I have posted under these names a couple other times recently.) We did everything ourselves...neither side had a lawer. Mom didn't show up tpo court today(second time she missed a hearing regarding their son.) The judge had no problem changing to sole custody because of her lack of concern for her son. He mentioned that the letters she hand wrote to respond to the petition were "nasty." Under the circumstances, he would have changed to full custody if she contested or not due to her conduct. (She asked my husband to get sole custody and then wrote the judge these long, messy, highly angry letters to complain about being taken to court.) Anyway, it is possible to do the custody paperwork without an attorney, but it is very tedious and is probably wise if you can at all afford representation to get it just in case. Luckily for us (not so for my step son) she is irresponsible and makes herself look bad enough without us having to do anything. Good luck to you all and thanks again!!!

Congradulations- Wish they all could be so easy, if it has to go that way. Now, (2cents), trying to be nice to the ex doesn't hurt, and will only be better for the child. thanks for letting this board know...