Escaping Domestic Violence
Ms. Y's story.

By the time family law attorney Jodi Prior met Ms. Y, her case was set for trial. At two previous court hearings, Ms. Y had represented herself, but was intimidated by the process. She realized that she needed an attorney.

After her husband left her and her four boys for a fourth time, Ms. Y had had enough. One day, when her husband was dropping off the boys after a visit, he picked an argument with her new boyfriend, broke his arm, took the two youngest boys and left.

He switched the boys' school to hide them from their mother. Ms. Y had no idea where they were and didn't see them again for a year. By the time she met Jodi, Ms. Y had represented herself in court twice, but got no custody or visitation rights.

In court, Ms. Y was very nervous. Her husband was not. With confidence, he claimed Ms. Y had abandoned the boys; that she only wanted them to collect welfare. She was too frightened to speak.

The third time Ms. Y went to court, she went with Jodi. The custody evaluation previously conducted by the court investigator had not been favorable to Ms. Y, and had recommended custody be granted to the father.

Jodi was able to prove that the father had been convicted for domestic violence while they were together and that, after taking the boys, he prevented any contact with their mother. Says Jodi, "I didn't know what would happen, but we were going to fight and Ms. Y was a very good witness."

Ms. Y was awarded full custody of the boys, now 7 and 4, who are happy to be living with her and their brothers again. Ms. Y says, "I thank God Jodi was there to help me."

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