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Real Life Stories: personal journeys of our clients
"... it was that day I had control.
Thanks again to Scott and his associates."
- quote from grateful parent
See the following article
The following is a personal testimonial from an actual client of Scott Wasserman & Associates. |
• Judianne's Story
• Meet Cheyenne
• Dad rescues his children form Foster care
• Brain Stays in School and at home
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I could not believe she would ever leave me. We lived happily together with two girls' ages 3 and 5. I thought that everything in our relationship was going fine. "Sure, we had our problems but nothing really big." One morning she announced that she: was not happy, wanted to end our relationship, in order to: start anew with a women. "Why is it that the guy is the last one to know?"
She and the girls moved in with her new girl friend in a town nearby. I kept in touch and visited my daughters on the weekends. Then one day she announced she was going to move with the girls to Arizona. She gave me a weeks' notice. It was then I told her I did not want the girls to go and that I was going to explore my options.
I was very worried, nervous and quickly losing contact with my girls. I had mixed emotions about the girls being raised in a gay household. I also was suffering from guilt about a failed relationship and questioning myself as a parent. I thought, "What could I or should I have done?", "Just what kind of father am I?", and "How can I, a now single guy, raise two girls?"
"Why or how did you choose Scott Wasserman?" You ask.
By chance, I found his Scott Wasserman's advertisement in the back of my church's local paper. I asked around fellow parishioners for opinions about Scott Wasserman and found he was well thought of. Most importantly, he had the credentials I needed to get control of my situation.
So, I picked up the phone and called the law offices of Scott Wasserman & Associates. But it took me about three tries because each time I began to dial, I would hang up at the last second, before I had the courage to call. You see... "Men get squeamish, too..." I remember being very nervous as I set up the appointment over the phone that day. I could barely speak.
At my first meeting with Scott Wasserman & Associates, the "butterflies in my stomach" feeling returned. I was uncomfortable telling my problems to a room full of strangers. Probably because I never really expressed my personnel problems before, and let me tell you, "I have a few." I had many concerns: Which of Scott's associates would represent me? What would he or she would think of me as they heard my story. Would it be a guy or girl lawyer going to defend me? and then again, Is a guy or girl judge going to hear my case? I had my druthers about either. I was very pleased with Scott's choice. As I told my story, I noticed the friendly smiles and pleasantries' were replaced with genuine concern for my rights and saving my children from possibly losing them altogether. "At last we were getting somewhere!" I thought. The butterflies were replaced with information, the steps and tasks necessary to keep my girls in Kansas.
It was one week later, as she was loading up the sofa into the U-HAUL she was served with a court order that the girls were to stay in Kansas. The day she was served she called me up to call me every name in the book.
The only name in the book worth mentioning is: "Scott Wasserman & Associates" because it was that day I had control. Thanks again to Scott and his associates.
All-in-all, it takes about a year to gain custody and work through the Kansas Court System. Scott Wasserman was with me and for me every step of the way. There were obstacles like the House Inspection, Court Services, Day Care, WIC Program, Single Spouse Support Network, Clothing, and more. Scott Wasserman can help you with all of them. "It is an easy process," so they say. I personally suffered from mood swings, sleepless nights, and depression here and there. Remember as you are going through something like this, you are not alone and you should seek help from friends, clergy, counselors. In my case, our next-door neighbors ended up being a great baby-sitting and house cleaning asset.
I am still in the fight even though the court has judged me favorably. My "ex" is always probing the paperwork to see what she can get away with. From time to time, our court documents may need to be amended. I know I can count on Scott Wasserman & Associates to be there for me.
Judianne's Story
Grandma and Grandpa came to us extremely distraught and concerned for their granddaughter's safety. Their granddaughter, Judianne (changed to protect the child's identity) resided with her mother in California. Judianne's dad was in jail.
Judianne came to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for six weeks of the summer. During her stay Judianne shared with Grandma and Grandpa horrific stories of moving home to home and witnessing drug abuse and violence. Judianne had been to school only three months out of the last school year.
Grandma and Grandpa came to us stating that they could not send Judianne back to such a terrible environment. We filed an emergency motion to give Grandma and Grandpa immediate custody of Judianne. Judianne's mother and father were given opportunities to reintegrate with Judianne, but they were not successful. After approximately a year, Grandma and Grandpa were given permanent guardianship of Judianne. Judianne is now safe and free to live as a child should live.
Meet Cheyenne
Dad came to us when his four year old daughter was taken from Mom's custody and placed in the custody of Kansas Social and Rehabilitative Services (SRS). A "child in need of care" action had been filed as a result of Mom's failure to adequately care for Cheyenne (changed to protect the child's identity) due to Mom's abuse of alcohol. Dad's contact with Cheyenne had been sporadic and inconsistent over the years as a result of Mom's failure to allow Dad to have contact with their daughter. We filed a motion to modify temporary custody in the child in need of care case. Dad was granted residency of his daughter while Mom has restricted parenting time.
Dad Rescues His Children From Foster Care
Dad came to us when he was notified that the Mother of his two teenage children had been killed in automobile accident. Dad had not seen his children in over ten years. Mom had left Dad for a woman and went into hiding. Dad had searched for his children over the years but never could locate them. Following the death of Mom the children were put into foster care. We represented Dad as he worked a reintegration plan. With our help, Dad was reunited with his children and granted full custody.
Brian Stays In School and At Home
Brian was in trouble for leaving school to use marijuana at a friend's house. The school expelled him for using drugs on campus. We argued to the school board that they couldn't have it both ways; that is, they can't punish him for leaving school at a friend's house, and then punish him for using drugs at school when they admit he was absent. The school then tried to change its grounds for expulsion at the last minute. We appealed the expulsion to the school board, and after a trial the school had to recant its expulsion.
The school then worked with the police to get Brian sent to a youth correctional facility. The officials trumped up numerous charges against Brian. For example, Brian was accused to criminal damage to property. However, the property damaged was Brian's own truck. By accumulating several of these charges, the state was able to sentence Brian to a year at a youth correctional facility. We appealed the Kansas Court of Appeals. Before we had to argue his case on appeal, we were able to get Brian's sentence commuted so that he could remain in school while living in his own home.
Your family is unique and special. We share these real life stories to show you the types of cases we have handled for our other clients. However, these stories are not intended to create the unjustified expectation that similar results can be obtained for you without reference to your specific factual and legal circumstances. Please contact us about your unique needs
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