representing oneself for custody

I'm not sure where to start but here goes. My daughter lived with a man 12 years older than her. They never married but she became pregnant and they had a son. She was in an abusive and controlling relationship. Last year at this time she was in the Kada House for abusive women and we traveled from Indiana to Minnasota to get her. To make a long story short he filed for custody so that he can still control her and not pay child support. They have been at this for a year now. Her son is now three years old. She works a job making $8 an hour and her attorney fees are now somewhere above $15,000. That doesn't include what I her mom has given her. She has since met a great guy and plans to get married after the hearing but now she can't afford a lawyer. What kind of insite can someone give us to expect going to court on your own. The hearing is on Oct. 13th. She is afraid she'll lose custody b/c she can't afford a lawyer and makes to much money for any legal help she has been told. The ex-boyfriend hasn't even been paying any support for the boy. That should say something about his priorties. We just need some type of advice. I'm getting very nervous and know there isn't anything I can do but support her and testify for her. I've depleted my savings this year to keep her afloat. Thanks for any help.

Every courthouse is different and operates differently. Tell your daughter to simply tell the truth. Tell the judge about the prior abuse and the father's lack of support. Good luck.

Thank you. We are going to call the court house and try and get the child support records to show how he hasn't been paying support. I appreciate your thoughts and please pray for us next Thursday the 13th.