ex is mental health patient

[Vette Smith]

During the course of our 10-yr relationship, my ex became a psych patient due to a brain injury sustained in a car accident. The changes in his behavior and personality were dramatic and increased negatively until I requested an evaluation by our local mental health facility. It was determined that he should be Baker Acted. He has since been released. There is no parenting plan in place; he has been ordered to pay child support for the 2 youngest children. To be fair to our 3 children, I arranged for visitation with their father. Recently, my 8-yr-old stated that his father told him that he wouldn't love him anymore if our son didn't answer his questions about personal things at our home. My 4-yr-old flat out told me he doesn't want to go back to his dad's house. As for our 2-yr-old, my ex has no interest in seeing her at all. Bay Area Legal Services declined to accept my case. I requested if supervised visits could be set up for the ex in order for the children to spend time with him, but not alone due to his irrational behavior and excessive mood swings. I was told a judge would not comply and shared visits would be ordered. Question: what can I do to protect my children? Not all biological fathers make responsible dad's. I'm considering moving out of state to avoid being ordered to send my kids to a place they don't want to go. I don't want to see them cry anymore because of their dad.
Sorry about the length. I'm just not sure if the courts take mental health issues into consideration when it comes to the behavioral and psychological development of growing children.

[Attorney Howard Iken]

These issues are taken seriously. But you need really convincing proof of potential harm to the children in order to get supervised time with the Dad.

The other attorney was correct in telling you supervised parenting time would be unlikely.

It would not hurt to reopen the case and ask.