See #58 above.
The father is intelligent and knows the family court system more than most people.
Attorneys are valuable but very limited in family court. Without evidence, the outcome is a roll of the dice. The outcome can boomerang.
Family court is a different creature than other venues of law.
All the homespun advice “Get a Lawyer” are ‘nice words’ only.
Of course, he knows when he needs a lawyer.
But he knows the system well enough to seek admissible evidence first, then talk to lawyers.
Family lawyers are of limited use in the family court system? News to me.
I spent over 2 years in family Court (over $225k!!). I’ve been through just about every facet of a contested custody case. Without a good attorney (who in my case it also a brother in Christ) who knows what would have happened. People who see my Decree would wonder at what I was awarded despite not having primary custody.
An experienced attorney will know rules of evidence, what motions to file, will know at least some of the Judges, and will have a Rolodex of reliable counsellors, psychologists and mediators. So far, from what you have described, it sounds to me like your friend is doing things which could put his son’s life at risk. I hope not. I wish him well.