Sacramento Family Court Workshop Closure Hits Families Hard

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The closure of Sacramento's Family Court Workshop is leaving some families struggling to find legal assistance.

Budget cuts have impacted families going through custody battles by removing resources to help them through the process.

Marqe' Berry, Jr., was taken away from his dad in January after a domestic dispute.

"Just being away from him for this long is really a bummer. It's an empty spot for me," Marqe' Berry said.

Berry is now fighting the courts to get his son back, but the cost of lawyer fees are too high and one-time free advice is now gone.

"When I went up there, they have a big red note on the door that says, 'Due to cuts, we no longer have the services we used to.'"

The Sacramento Superior Court had to eliminate its workshops that help guardians fill out paperwork. Even grandparents, such as Tim Lynch, are left with few options.

"The terminology that is used in the courtroom, if you're not familiar and not a lawyer—it's really hard to get the point across to the judge," Lynch said.

The two men say they are swallowing their pride and now seeking help at the family enrichment center. Patricia Terry is making sure they don't miss a single dot of an I or a cross of a T.

"Sometimes they do come in on edge, but as soon as they leave here, they are fine and more motivated," Terry said.

With the center offering help for just a few dollars, it is giving these men hope of gaining custody. Something they didn't have a few months ago.

"That will actually put a hold on any adoption of my grandchildren," Lynch said. "And that's a big step, because that is what I don't want."

"I'm really close," Berry said. "I'm on the verge of getting my overnight visits possibly returned to me on Oct. 23."

While places like the Family Enrichment Center are stepping up to help fill in the gap, the judge that started the workshops a decade ago says he will continue to fight to bring the program back.