After Leaving - Custody, Child Support etc. Need advice.

We are divorcing, and he filed with joint custody. I am contesting as the reason I got the courage to leave is because he hit our son and left bruises on his face (of his hand print). I turned him in that night.

Initially I did apply for the protection orders, but I never went to the court date so they were dismissed. I was torn, not really sure what was right or wrong. I want my children to have their father and so it was a rough time for me.

I’ve put off filing for divorce as waiting for tax refund to pay for a lawyer. I wanted to file first, as he is in prison and I just don’t think he would manage to contest and if he did then so be it I would already have a lawyer.

But, he has filed (he says). So through out time since I left he has threatened me multiple times. I am thinking about putting the protection orders back in place. He only talks on the phone now once every few weeks with kids. I was taking them to visit, but after he threatened me that last time I realized I still had no control and he was never going to change.

I want to file for full custody, and if he has to have any contact I want it supervised by a professional, secure place. His family can’t be trusted, and mine wants nothing to do with him.

8 years of abuse, but undocumented with the police. So on paper, the incident with my son is the only incident reported.

If I file for full custody, with no or limited visitation do I have the option to ask for child support? I have never, he has been in and out of prison since our oldest was 20 months old (he is 8 now) and I’ve always supported our children since then. It’s something I have been considering as I live paycheck to paycheck, and he did help make them so I feel like he should be helping once out of prison.

He has mentioned before that he wants joint custody so I can’t file for child support and he expects to claim kids on taxes every other year. I feel like he thinks he is entitled to everything without any of the work. What options do I have to make sure he can’t screw me over?

This is a vague post, but I will tell you I suffered years of abuse. I’ve even had a knife held to my neck, one of the worst things he has done. But in my effort to thinking I wanted to do what was right for my kids, I feel like I’ve done it all wrong.

I will be seeking legal advice once I have the money, but just looking for some guidance or even experiences with this type of thing. Thank you! (Sorry for being all over the place!)