My ex bf owes me a large sum of money-I had him write a contract, date, sign, payments per mth, and amt of $55000 + interest. Now what?

I know I need to take him to superior court-I consulted a lawyer who said I would need to pay him $3000, but I don't have that kind of money--can I represent myself and win since I had him hand write and sign a contract? I was with him for 10 years (too long) he cheated and was constantly in a jam. I conclude he is a sociopath after reading the definition-he fits it perfectly except that for he is not violent--he's definitely a chameleon. I'm not the only one he bilked. If I win, how can I collect the money? He married a woman he cheated on me with and had a baby in July 2011 (good luck to her). I have evidence of him borrowing money from others and not paying them back thousands. I was naive and blind--makes me sad and what a hard lesson. He was very smooth and I was not watching out for myself like I should have. If you knew me you would wonder how such a responsible person let such a letch get away with what he did--I've beaten myself up mentally for allowing it. I finally couldn't take it anymore and left him--he had asked me to have a child with him and I laughingly replied "I'd have to go on welfare"! In other words, I knew he wouldn't work or take care of a child--I exclaimed :NO! I left him shortly after and he found a new person to pay his bills. I wish I could do it all over again--I had just gotten out of college and came down with a severe illness shortly after I met him--I was sick for years and vulnerable-I had been working six days per week when in the beginning and then I was laid off and got sicker and sicker and didn't know why for several years--I felt like I was dying (I'm okay now). So glad to be away from the scalawag. I need some real detailed answers to help, not to hurt me--I've already been through enough. I'm looking for some real answers of anyone who has been through this. I'm no dummy, I was just trusting, didn't want to give up hope and now I know to never let someone do this again. If a guy is asking for money, they need