HELP!! I have so many questions

[stillinshock]

I have been married for 17 years. I recently got out of prison, yes, I'm ashamed to say prison. I lost my job of 18 years after I got addicted to pain pills & sleeping pills after an injury/surgery. Needless to say, I was arrested 4 times and landed in prison. Through all of this, my husband stood by my. 60 days before coming home (and 12 months after I had been gone), my husband was pursured by a woman going through a divorce and they "hooked up".. needless to say, he filed for divorce. We have 2 children a 16 year old daughter and 10 year old son. He has turned them against me and the entire situation is OUT OF CONTROL! I just want to rebuild my life and my relationship with my kids.. would I like to work things out with my husband, of course, but right now I dont see that happening..here is what I'm facing.. Im unemployed, having a hard time finding a job because of my criminal past. I have "supervised" visitation right now w/the kids (after my husband filed for an injuction, the only way to keep me away so his girlfriend would stay) every other weekend.. my daughter is 16, yes, what a terrible age.. I want to get the divorce over with, but I don't want to ROLL over and give him all he wants.. I want to fight for alimony, and I think I should have shared custody of the kids, none of my charges have to do with ANY abuse or neglect of them, and honestly, in the middle of my mess, no one knew, so can't say I didn't do for them, but my husband has his father's money paying for his attorney, and unfortunately I have NOTHING>. please, any suggestions are welcome!

[Attorney Howard Iken]

This is a really difficult situation.

If you are off of the drugs, and successfully completed a program - there is no reason why you would not end up with shared parental responsibility. Also, supervised visitation should not be the permanent outcome if you have gone through rehab and can show it.

In a long term marriage such as yours, alimony would be appropriate.

I recommend you somehow raise the money for a limited consult with an attorney - with the goal of helping you conduct your own case.

Attorney Howard Iken