Is it possible to file a petition for temporary custody of a child without a lawyer?

Question

My friend is trying to file temporary custody of his 5 year old son due to the fact that the mother is not caring for him as well as she should. E.G. She won't work and always complains that they don't have food even though she gets adequate child support, she says she can't afford to send him to school, they live in a house with 3 illegal immigrants, etc... Anyways, they both share equal custody as of now because technically they are still married but have been separated for over 3 years. He has just recently found her whereabouts and started to visit with the child and is learning more and more bad stuff by the day. Keep in mind this lady was proved unfit about 10 years ago by her 1st husband. My friend wants to petition the court for temporary custody and is trying to find out if this can be done without hiring an attorney? He has the money but would rather save the money to care for the child once he has him if this can be done without forking it all out on a lawyer. Please only answer if you actually know something about this sort of stuff. Thanks!

Answer 1

You have a constitutional right to go to court and represent yourself. However, you better know what you are doing.

Answer 2

Yes, just go to the court house and file the petition.  My husbands ex wife does this c**p all the time to us and she doesn't have a lawyer.  The stupid papers the sheriff leaves on the door is always written in her handwriting and then signed by a judge.  

She does this just to be a pain in the *** and ask for more money and for full custody with no chance of him being able to even have visitation rights but she is bipolar and a little psycho and hates the fact that I'm with her ex husband.  

But yes, tell you friend to do it because this child sounds like he/she is in danger.