An Army servicemember had a son who lived with her full time. She was then deployed overseas, and her son stayed in the United States and lived with her parents during her time abroad. The Soldier wanted to be able to bring her son with her while she lived overseas, but she had no formal custody order. Years prior, her son’s biological father had sought to gain physical custody, but then requested that the case be dismissed. She decided to visit her local Legal Assistance Office for help to navigate the legal system and establish a formal custody and visitation order.

The Soldier’s legal assistance attorney referred her case to the ABA Military Pro Bono Project, which then connected her with a volunteer attorney. The case went to trial, but the judge granted full custody to the Solider, allowing her to take her son with her on her overseas deployment.

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