Legal Question in Family Law in California

And as I told you before, it is for them to substitute in an attorney of record. They are no longer representing themselves and are being represented by an attorney. If you read the form carefully, it will note that they are now represented by an attorney and have the attorney's name.

Anything else calls for pure speculation. Perhaps the other party is going to file an appeal, or is going to file a motion for a new trial, or perhaps a motion to put more salt in the ocean.

It is irritating that you choose to ignore my previous answer and use this forum to ask us to speculate and then call it legal advice. If you want to know why your ex has an attorney, ask your ex or the attorney on the form.

You misunderstand the status of your case. A child custody case is never closed until all minor children turn 18 and graduate from high school or turn 19 regardless of graduation. Until then, custody and/or support orders can always be modified. If the other party was self-represented and has filed a substitution of attorney that would mean, as Mr. Roach says, that they have hired an attorney. What that attorney will then do can only be guessed at.