Legal Question in Family Law in Arkansas

Cannot find help to obtain visitation

My husband has been trying to see his children for the past 2 yrs. Paternity has been established, PI was hired, lawyer was hired and pd in full, yet since Jan we have heard no response. We were in default of a child support order due to proveable lawyers negligience. We have no contact info and kids are growing up fast. We just want visitation, but being in a different state is proving difficult as we cannot get response of ANY kind from the lawyer and PI that we hired and paid for. Went to AR and were refused to see the kids and police would do nothing. How do we go about getting help in obtaining visitation? We cannot find a lawyer in FL willing to take the case due to distance, money is a huge issue. We were just ordered to pay $618/ mo for 2 kids when the courts have never seen our financial affidavit nor have they asked about any additional children. One in Canada is receiving $300/mo in support and I have 2 myself and do not receive support. Being that my income is his, doesn't this too mean that we have 5 children to support? How do we get heard, we have already lost quite a bit of money to the last lawyer and PI that we never heard from after. They don't return our calls, nor do they answer them. Trying to unite a family.


Asked on 6/21/04, 5:13 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys
David Slater David P. Slater, Esq.

Re: Cannot find help to obtain visitation

Either you or your attorney must pursue a remedy in Florida and then possibly in AR. Your local Bar Association should be able to help. Good luck.

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Answered on 6/21/04, 5:58 pm
Richard Orintas Orintas Law Firm

Re: Cannot find help to obtain visitation

It appears that you now have an attorney who is obligated and who should advise you accordingly on the subject... In the event that you have relieved or fired him, you may call me for possible assistance...

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Answered on 6/21/04, 6:18 pm
Herb Southern The Southern Law Firm

Re: Cannot find help to obtain visitation

Those were probably two of the most worthless answers I have ever seen ... now then:

According to your facts and a little reading between the lines, the Mom lives in AR, paternity has been proven and child support set. Interesting, but not very! Normally when OCSE goes after a dad they establish paternity and CS but stop there. It is up to the Dad to go to AR and establish his right to visitation.

If all of this is true, you need to reopen the case with OCSE and petition the Court for visitation. Obviously every other weekend is not going to work, so you will have to work out a different schedule, and you will most likely have to foot the bill for travel expenses.

As to the Atty you paid in full that has not done anything, I suggest you send a letter certified explaining that if you have not heard by x date you will pursue the matter with the Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct. If that does not work, the send another letter terminating the representation and contact another Atty to help you. We are not all like that one was. If it is in NW Arkansas, give us a call. If elsewhere, lemme know and I can probably recomend someone to you.

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Answered on 6/21/04, 9:12 pm


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