Legal Question in Family Law in New York

Friend just lost custody of 3 year old son 2/19 to CPS who came and snatched the child from the home that night. Father now has temporary custody. Both in court proceedings since 2008, where the father completely sabotaged my friends character. to the judge and law guardian.. made her out to be highly unstable and insecure, and got the judge and law guardian completely on his side and completely against the mother. She's had custody since birth & the father (who she's financially supported for over 10 years) chose to walk out and leave to an undisclosed location but had visitation rights.

The mother is a law abiding citizen, highly educated, a stable job as teacher, own home, no criminal history or legal strikes against her, but the following may have gone against her character in court, and she wants to know what she could do if she

1. Didn't follow schedule (I think with visitation with the father, because she was concerned about where the father was taking the son. She did not know the whereabouts and was concerned most times).

2. Missed 1 court date & 1 court date didn't have attorney (the cost became a burden and had to switch attorneys, but had trouble finding another affordable one after she lost the first one) Also, the lawyer was very difficult to work with and disliked my friend... ended up telling the judge that she was difficult to work with and negative things to strike against her in court out of spite!

3.No good relationship with law guardian, because the guardian favors the father and there was just no confidence there... Clicky situation

4. Anonymous False accusation to CPS about child, that the mother isn't feeding the child... only giving him baby food, which is FALSE. This was made after CPS took the child... to reinforce that the mother shouldn't have him.

5. Kicked out of court for speaking when law guardian was speaking. The mother's outburst was "I am here to protect my son!"

Now the fathers lawyer is asking for a mental evaluation of my friend, to try and prove her mentally unsound. The father is very manipulative and has really worked this situation well. My friend would like to see a lawyer who is not in cahoots with the Bronx county system, because she feels that they all know each other and doesn't feel that they can be fair to her at this point. She is in Bronx County of New York and she told me that in each borough they deal with this situation differently. What can she do? She wants to fight to regain custody, but how can she do it. I'm also afraid of her going into depression because of this... She is distraught!

Any suggestions or any referral for a Bronx County lawyer who isn't very very expensive and is a fair person, who will not turn on his client and actually remain loyal and on her side to work to HELP HER... Her last lawyer seemed to be siding with the father unfortunately and betrayed my friend and reported falsely to the judge to make the judge more in favor of the father.

I appreciate your time...

1 Answer from Attorneys

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