Ex Filed False Protection Order Against Me — Now He Has Our Son. What Do I Do?

Hi everyone, I really need advice right now. For clarity, this is a throw away account, made solely for my first post. I (F25) am the primary parent of my 7-year-old son. His dad (M26) and I share 80/20 custody — he gets every other weekend. Location: Nebraska This past weekend, my son confided that his dad smacked him so hard it was difficult for him to breathe. I actually have this on video, since I record pickup and drop-offs (my state is one-party consent) due to a history of volatility.

That same night, his dad forgot to return my son with his backpack and lunchbox. He said he’d go home and bring it back, but 30 minutes passed and nothing. When I asked through our parenting app if I needed to come get it myself, he became hostile. I calmly said I’d call the police for a civil standby — which I did. The police came, he returned the backpack, and I recorded the whole interaction (which shows I remained civil).

After what my son disclosed, I filed a protection order for him and also reported to CPS. The courthouse staff advised me to file a domestic protection order, which was signed the next morning — though it came through as a harassment protection order against the dad. He was served, and CPS contacted him.

In retaliation, he filed a protection order against me — for both him and our son. His claims are completely false, and I have video evidence proving otherwise.

Despite my evidence, his protection order was granted, which now blocks me from any contact with my son. I’m devastated. My son already has extreme anxiety about going to his dad’s, and now he’s been cut off from me completely.

His dad only suddenly became involved when he got a new girlfriend with her own child — now he wants to play “Disneyland Dad of the Year.” Meanwhile, I’ve been the one raising our son for seven years.

I’ve reached out to my lawyer, but I’m getting silence. I feel like I’m paying for nothing while my son is suffering. I cannot and will not just wait around until a hearing.

What steps can I take right now to fight this and get my son back where he belongs?