Pro Bono Lawyer

Maybe you can reach out to legal aid as well.

Keep in mind that as critical as your case is... no lawyer will represent you for free and give you his/her best representation. You need a relationship with a lawyer who will help you and know that you will bend over backward to do what you can to help him/her with your case, include getting him paid.

Is the relationship with your current lawyer completely irreconcilable? He is the one who knows your case and would probably be best suited to help you. Too bad your mom screwed things up for you. I would plead with him to help you and you promise to keep your mother out of it.

I think you might have an easier time finding someone that will work with you on payment arrangements..Especially given you need someone so quickly. I know a great Family Lawyer in Denton Co. but good representation unfortunately isn't cheap. If you want the info on the lawyer you can message me and I will send it to you. Can family help?

If your Mom was paying your previous Lawyer, will she help you pay for a new one? Since, her behavior is what caused the Lawyer to withdraw from helping you.
Tell your Mom.
Because, time is of essence, you do not have time... to find another lawyer that is "free." And your local Legal Aid Society will not help you either.
And you do not want to risk losing your kids.
So you have to.... find and hire another Lawyer, fast.
But any new Lawyer, has to review your case and prep for it.
And your case is THIS Friday.
That is not much time for any Lawyer, to prep for it or do it.

There is no such animal any more. You can call the court house and ask them if they have any programs to do this but in reality if your mom paid for the past attorney you'll most likely have to her pay for the next one too. Or just go to court and when the judge asks you why you don't have an attorney tell them that you can't afford one.

If at all possible, ask your former attorney to file a motion on your behalf for a continuance while you seek alternate legal counsel. If that is not possible, ask Legal Aid to file the motion. If they won't do it, go down to the court house and talk to the clerks. Ask them where you can get a motion form. Fill it out to the best of your ability, describe the situation you just put forth. The judge can grant a continuance, then you have some time to find counsel. Contact the closest law school- they may have a family law clinic or have additional resources that you can look into. Call a women's shelter or similar community resource.

You will probably NOT find a pro bono lawyer to do a complicated family law case and you probably will NOT even find a lawyer you can pay who can be ready for court by Friday.

Go to court; tell the judge the situation and try to get a continuance. If you can, fax a letter to the judge some time this week to let them know what's going on. CC the letter to your hubby's attorney so they are "in the loop."

Here in CA, you couldn't even get a motion to continue heard that quick so I suggest the letter and showing up on Friday with or without a lawyer.

And next time you have a lawyer,. tell your mom to leave him/her alone. She may have written the check, but she is NOT in charge. You hired a lawyer because that person knows what to do, what strategy to use,. etc. He/she has much more experience than your mother!