. I honestly am seeking insight on where to turn with a situation involving an ex-husbandfather of my children, because I have attempted through the courts to finalize a custody agreement and as of yet, nothing is transpiring.

I realize it is through my attorney that I should be seeking this information as well as ?permanence? to a temporary order; however, my attorney has not responded to my requests . My ex-husband filed for custody of the children, and at that time, the hearing was continued following his testimony, and we were to abide by the temporary order. There was never an additional court date. The judge took my children in his chambers to talk, my ex-husband testified, but I have not been given an opportunity to testify. Prior to such actions, we attended all prerequisites to filing for custody. I have had the children in my custody since the day my ex-husband left the residence in 2000, but two years later, he filed for custody. I paid a lot of money, to retain an attorney, to maintain my position as primary care giver. Yet, as time goes by, my ex-husband violates the temporary order in many ways: Bad-mouths me to the children, is not always with the children when they are to be in his care, leaves the state and even the country without prior knowledge of his whereabouts, is not accessible to his children by way of phone or residence. He moves periodically and I have to figure out where he lives when I retrieve the children after a visit. His demeanor and condescending remarks about my family and friends, to the children are appalling, and it is very frustrating as their mother, to accept such behavior, especially from an individual who is not only their father, but an individual in a profession of which he should be conducting himself accordingly.

I went to the custody office in Blair County this week to discuss the situation, but because the hearing was moved to Huntington County (a conflict of interest involving my ex-husband) the staff was not able to direct me in the right direction. However, I believe the order was initially established here, in Blair County, before the change of venue.

I paid 700.00 upfront to retain an attorney and I got nothing in return - never a permanent custody order, nor did I even get to testidfy. Isn't there a law with a certian time frame to settle the order? And, is it proper for me to ask for at least half of a refund for services?