Can Someone Tell Me How To Get Visitation

My name is Cristina. I have four children who live with their father and his girlfriend in NC. I moved to Michigan three years ago and it was decided that my ex husband would keep the kids. I have kept in touch with the kids I moved here. I never imagined he would keep them from me. I only get to call my kids once a month and talk to them for a few minutes, my calls are monitered. When I have visited NC he only allows me to visit the children there and we stand outside in the front yard the whole visit which normally last about an hour or so. He is refusing to give me visitation and with no good reason. I have asked him to get the kids this summer while I am there and he just says no. He did tell me maybe next year I could take them to the store or to the movies. This is totally unacceptable to me and I need to find out how to go about getting visitation during the summers. I have tried to hire an attorney before but I cannot afford his services. He did write a letter which presuaded my ex to let me see the kids a few more times during that visit to NC. He threatens that if I try to take him to court for visitation he will cut off all contact until we get there and that is not why I have not pushed it before now. I am at my wits end. I do not even know where to start with finding a legal aid, etc. I want to file for visitation.I feel as if I am being aliented from my children. He tell me nothing. No school reports, pictures, etc. If someone could help me with this matter I would appreciate it greatly.

There should be a custody order in your divorce! No one can help you without knowing what that order says! From the outside it makes no sense as the children's Mother (you are bio Mom?) you have the same rights as Father does to kids. Show us or tell s us what your court order says and we can help more. Now you can petition the courts without an Attorney but its not advisiable

You may wish to see if you qualify for legal aid or similar programs.

Yes I am the bio mother. IN the divorce there was no child custody involved. It was a cheap cut and dry divorce and it only mentioned that we had kids. I too thought we should settle custody in the divorce but he once again threatened to keep the kids from my contact if I did not sign. There is no custody order.

There should have been a custody order even if its 50/50. Since there is no such ruling you have the right to see children and you can agree on visitation or can hash it out in court! Either way you have equal rights to see children until a court rules otherwise. Go to court and file petition you may even request custody keep in mind that if you do so and win visitation you may also be required to pay child support. If you had an Attorney at tiem of Divorce talk to him/her regardling this as well. bottom line as the Mother of these children you have just as much right to see them as their Father and Dad has no right to forbid visits long as they are reasonable.