O
ourserenity
Guest
I was 19 years old when my daughter, then 20 months old, now 10 years old, was taken from me. When I was served with papers to appear in court for the hearing in PA, I was in a mental hospital for depression under physician's orders. I was under the care of that physician and placed on several different medications, which had lots of side effects, so when I was served with papers to be at this hearing, the doctor refused to let me out of the hospital to go to the hearing. I was going to sign myself out, but the doc. told me if I tried to, they would take me to court and a judge would order me to stay for at least another 30 days. My question is this: Was I allowed to be sued for custody while in a hospital under doctor's care and orders? If not, is there any repercussion? I lost custody of my child by default, I guess that means that because they thought I had shown no interest in my child by not showing up to the hearing. Her father, then, after getting custody, has kept her hidden from me and my family for the past 9 years, out of vengance. I know where they live now, as a result of my own investigations, so what can I do? I am not a wealthy person, and really can't afford a long drawn-out legal battle, but I am fairly intelligent, and could maybe file something in court myself? Any help would be greatly appreciated.