Many parents who are trying to protect their children from abusive exes in custody disputes lose because they can’t afford a lawyer,or afford one who is as good as the ex’s lawyer. The loser will then be ordered to pay the legal fees, and put in jail on contempt charges if they have the gall to continue being poor.
Barbara Bentley was married to a Psychopath who drained her financially and then tried to kill her. He was convicted of attempted murder, and served (not enough) time for it. When she divorced him, she was forced to pay him alimony.