Jessica Wierckz, Director Ionia Friend of the Court Referee, Ionia, Michigan 48846 Ms. Jessica K. Wierckz- Director Circuit Court Referee/ Friend of the court  Ionia Michigan

 My name is Shirley. I am writing in regards to the injustice myself and two children have endured this past years of 2013/2014/2015. I have had custodial custody since my divorce in 2003. I have had no criminal, child neglect/abuse and have had a good relationship with our Ionia County Friend of the Court until May of 2013. Life was rough at times but in 2006 when my Mom was diagnosed with Breast cancer and I became her caretaker. Both my children were in sports since preschool. Did well in school like most kids they struggled with going back and forth being in a divorced family they paid emotionally and mentally at times. They were adjusting as well as to be expected. My youngest son had missed several days of school. I had taken him to many doctor appts and to no diagnosis. Doctor said he was just going through seperation anxiety and or stubborn child. We had been through me being sick 2007 with abscest colon and having a colon resection. With having to take time off work having 2 major surgeries, we started staying with my parents and ended up living with them as I had tumors removed along with a hysterectomy. He was just stuck to me scared of losing his Momma. At the same time my Father went thru head and neck cancer treatment May of 2010. I had become his caretaker along with my Mom . Mom was still recovering from breast cancer.

The same year 2010 my parents home burned down almost losing my Father's life. We lost our family Dog "Buster" he saved my Dads life by barking and jumping on him to wake him from sleeping. Dad suffered from massive smoke inhalation. The day after the fire my Mom's test returned she had colon cancer and would go through more surgeries and more treatments. We moved with my parents to another home and continued living with them through 2015. My daughter had went through similar stages with anxiety attacks also at his age. Begged my ex to let me get them both councilor's for their well being. We struggled with many obsticals. I was broke and trying to make it as a single Mother. I had a job but didn't get many hours. My ex got the kids rotating weekly on his days off 2 days a week and every 6 weeks two weekends. We've had this schedule since our seperation in 2002. Along with my Ex paying child support that was only raised once since our divorce.

In Feb of 2011 my Dad had an accident. In which my Mom put me in charge of his care since she was recovery from cancer and colon resection. Mom put me in care of his medical payments that went towards any medications/ co-pays and I got some pay to help take care of him. Along with his second accident in which he broke his neck and had brain damage that was the start of Dementia. May of 2013, my ex took me to court along with his disrespectful "attorney'' Dan Templin. I was unable to retain an (afford) an attorney. The court entered an order of a change in parenting time of my youngest at the time he was entering 6th grade/Middle School. I was blind sided with lies from my Ex husband and lies his parents made up. I was made fun of for taking my child in when he was sick and kept taking him to the pediatric doctor. Repeatedly harassed me if my youngest wasnt feeling well or didn't get a good grade on school work. I was threatened by my ex. One of the reasons of my leaving him was physical, verbal, mental abuse. Along with him dating his co-worker that was also married at the time. I told the court of the abuse and asked for my ex to seek anger management or counseling. Along with pleading both kids get counseling. I was told the change in the parenting time was temporary. I was a fool to believe that the court had my child's best interest. It did not make since I had my daughter and my ex had my son. Both kids pleaded for a resolution that would be fare. The counselor that my ex's attorney had an established relationship already was biased. My son basically didn't want to talk to her anymore because basically she wasn't there to help him. She was there to help the attorney manipulate the already biased court.

I spent $675 on Co-parenting counseling in which once again was through my ex's attorney. She found my ex Rigid, controlling, acts like a drill sergeant parent, along with disrespectful towards myself and her. We both were told to bring the kids to speak with her. Then she told us that she never asked us to bring them in. Both kids had appt cards with the date and time on it. I spoke up and said why would we bring them? My ex said nothing and she told me I was hostel and in the same sentence she couldn't even remember why we were there and had to take 45 minutes to read her "notes" $150 later.....I was told I needed a phyc evaluation because I questioned her about paying $675 for her not knowing what we were there for. She was angry with me.....I had mentioned that I left my Mother at the hospital that was just diagnosed with Lung cancer to come there for my kids and myself to have a better way to communicate with their Father. I had retained an attorney that did 0%. He did say my ex needed anger management. And both counselors at that time said he was very controlling and was just a know it all and pretty much he was going to need anger management. But nothing was ever resolved. I payed $2,500 and in August of 2014. He was let go. Once again....$$$$$$$....nothing done.

As of December 5, 2014 my son was Diagnosed with Juvenile Diabeties. After 5 trips to the Pediatrition, Doctor, ER trips. Blood tests, Cat scan, physicals, xrays, :( A simple finger p***k for a sugar test showed his Blood Sugar was in the high 400. Normal is 85-100. After years of being called a liar, being told I was a horrible mother for making him go to the doctors. The poor kids pancreas was making his stomach hurt. His high blood sugar was making him miserable, hid low sugar gave him headaches and shakes. He spent months nauseated and couldn't stop peeing all the time. In one month he lost 20 lbs......but no one would listen........

I can say Ionia County has many things that need to change starting with the FRIEND OF THE COURT..... 1. No one there will answer a voicemail 2. No one will take accountability of why paper work isn't put in your file/ or why its not read 3. If you have a question....good luck.....the phone rings and rings and rings....... 4. Why can't the front desk give you your case #? One visit is different, answers or no one had an answer to simple questions 5. Privacy????? Confidentiality?????? NONE 6. does anyone really work there everyday?.doors locked at 4:00pm???? Or no one is at the front desk 7. If you are broke it's a crime....you can go to jail... 8. You maybe told you can speak until your told to "shut up" 9. DO NOT GO TO COURT WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY....... if you do....don't hire from inside Ionia County...act like they are representing you but they are buddies......learned the hard way. 10. Your ex can lie, attorney can make up stories, referee's are allowed to sleep during court proceedings, slam doors, be disrespectful 11. Liars club.....no one really cares 12. If you want to fight an order you have to buy the transcript..... each page cost $ mine was about $300- Court used a school to evaluate all of us as a family, (you get to be judged on your home, your liar skills, they speak to your kids for 10 minutes and they know nothing about the real story of the controlling, abusive ex husband, the verbally and emotionally abusive step mother)these girls had no degrees and were doing a collage report. A "book report" - I was scolded as to they had to finish their report before their semester ended. I was at the Hospital with my Mom that had just been diagnosed with Brain Cancer. I had talked to these girls several times answering the same questions to the point I asked if they could please respect the fact I was at the Hospital with my kids visiting my dieing Mother. I was talked to like I was inconveniencing them. At one point I spent 5 days leaving emails and messages about pictures of my parents home they demanded with no notice. And never used them in court. Went to court ordered me to do drug test, phyc Evaluation, counseling, spent more money. Went back to court with NO attorney. RESULTS WERE NONE OF MY PHYC evaluations showed any defects, only anxiety disorder. My drug test that was negative. Counselors saying I was a normal single mother that had the ability to deal with LARGE AMOUNTS OF STRESS. That I had a great relationship with both of my children emotionally, maternally and was/is what the children need as a parent. * Odd the court did not read any of my tests or results....didn't care I spent thousands of dollars and never once used it in court!!!!!! My Father has Dementia and it was deamed by the court it was unsafe for my children to live there with me. I have a home in town that I still owned.

I am in foreclosure but I'm trying to get the electric paid along with the water bill. I need a furnace inspection and fix some floors. (My Mother passed away June of 2015 from brain cancer. I had to beg him to bring the kids to say goodbye to my Mother. I had to let my ex bring my kids to my Moms viewing. The kids needed to be with me and I had to beg him to not make things harder than it already was. My Moms funeral I was kind to my Ex mother in law and said she could sit by my kids. She was disrespectful and said disrespectful things to my children at my Mothers funeral.) I do have my boyfriends beautiful, newer home, that the kids have plenty of room and roof, heat, food, water and lots of love. Its an hour from Ionia, but people commute everyday to schools, work. The referee awarded me every other weekend. Even in the summer. My Ex has been awarded that his attorney fees be paid by me. I asked why would I pay his attorney fees when I cannot afford my own attorney? At one point at a previous hearing Wierckz asked if I was on drugs. I answered no. She replied "Maybe you should be"...... I was treated like a criminal. It was an injustice for my children.

I believe in God and I know that there is someone out there that has a heart and may know of a probono attorney or maybe a place that helps single Moms with great kids that deserve justice. I've heard not many good things if any about our Ionia Friend of the Court. I filed a complaint today with Judge Hoorts office hopefully he will review my case and clear up this injustice I hope I can get some real people that have hearts and can do what is right for my children and myself. Thank you to everyone that read my life story. Please pray for us - SJW