Custody Battle

I am not sure how to answer your questions other than to tell you two things: First, you need an attorney. Second, in Michigan, where I am from, there are 12 factors that the Court is supposed to look at for any custody determination. These 12 factors are based on the best interests of the child standard, which includes things like a history of domestic abuse, whether perpetrated on the child or just witnessed by the child; the substance abuse and mental health history of the parents; and yes, most likely the fact that the baby's father was in jail for beating someone up. The fact that your baby's father is using intimidation and threats tells me that he is still abusing you. In addition, they will look at the circumstance around your CPS case—why were the children removed and what led to their return to you and the subsequent closure of the case. Again, because of the complex nature of your situation, I strongly urge you to seek legal counsel, and if you cannot afford an attorney, you can either ask the Court to appoint one for you or you can contact your local legal services or the state bar for a referral to a low-cost attorney.

I hope this helps at least a little. Best of luck to you.