Help Tom and Pam Keep their Family
Donation protected
The Family - The Littles
Tom and Pam Lake live in Folsom, CA with their 5 children; Fletcher (12), Malia (9), Jessica (17), Julia (15) and Noah (13). Those of you who know Tom and Pam may recall that on August 8, 2014 they became Guardians to Fletcher and Malia “The Littles” following the heartbreaking death of their father Matty Lake. The Littles’ mother Kari Lake passed away a few years prior leaving them orphans.
The Problem
After a year and a half of The Littles enjoying a loving, caring, happy home with Tom, Pam and their new brother and sisters, their maternal aunt with the assistance of their paternal grandmother filed a Petition for Termination of Guardianship. Tom and Pam were beyond shocked to be served court documents, especially since the aunt never expressed any concerns for the children’s wellbeing.
The Court
In that Petition, it is claimed that the Guardians should be removed for “…their lack of concern for education, therapy, medical treatment, dental treatment and emotional stability”. If you have spent any time with the Lake family, you know this is simply not the truth. The Lakes are fun loving, supportive, caring people who have changed their lives to ensure The Littles have the best home possible with love and stability.
Tom and Pam had to use the $5,000 they had saved to move their growing family into a bigger home as a retainer for an attorney to fight the Petition and keep their family together. Their attorney filed the appropriate responses with the court which included proof of grief counseling, medical treatment records, dental records and other supporting documents to refute the allegation against them. All the right stuff, yet it continued.
It has been nearly one year since the Petition for Termination of Guardianship was filed. There have been court appearances every three months, three different Probate Court Investigations, one report from the children's court appointed attorney and a Family Court Mediation between the parties that included testimony from The Littles. All the reports from the above agencies have stated the children are happy living with Tom, Pam and their brother and sisters. They are healthy, well cared for and loved. Despite all of these professional reports, on January 18, 2017 their aunt demanded a trial before the Probate Court. The Lakes are heartbroken that all five of their children and extended family members will continue to suffer while this matter plays out in open court.
What they need
At the trial on April 7, 2017, Tom and Pam will stand before a Judge and fight to keep their family together. The Lakes need your help so they are not standing there alone. They need continued legal representation. Tom and Pam’s attorney has estimated an additional $8,000 to $10,000 to defend them and their other children during the trial process. This may seem excessive for a four hour trial, but their aunt has scheduled personal depositions and started the written"discovery process" both of which are very time consumming and expensive.
Tom and Pam have accumulated almost $10,000 in attorney fees to date. There is no time to save another $8,000 before April 2017. Tom is the sole financial support for this family of seven. Pam has been caring for the children since October 2014 and is currently seeking employment to help with family expenses.
Please help them give The Littles what so many of you have never had to consider living without, your family.
Tom and Pam Lake live in Folsom, CA with their 5 children; Fletcher (12), Malia (9), Jessica (17), Julia (15) and Noah (13). Those of you who know Tom and Pam may recall that on August 8, 2014 they became Guardians to Fletcher and Malia “The Littles” following the heartbreaking death of their father Matty Lake. The Littles’ mother Kari Lake passed away a few years prior leaving them orphans.
The Problem
After a year and a half of The Littles enjoying a loving, caring, happy home with Tom, Pam and their new brother and sisters, their maternal aunt with the assistance of their paternal grandmother filed a Petition for Termination of Guardianship. Tom and Pam were beyond shocked to be served court documents, especially since the aunt never expressed any concerns for the children’s wellbeing.
The Court
In that Petition, it is claimed that the Guardians should be removed for “…their lack of concern for education, therapy, medical treatment, dental treatment and emotional stability”. If you have spent any time with the Lake family, you know this is simply not the truth. The Lakes are fun loving, supportive, caring people who have changed their lives to ensure The Littles have the best home possible with love and stability.
Tom and Pam had to use the $5,000 they had saved to move their growing family into a bigger home as a retainer for an attorney to fight the Petition and keep their family together. Their attorney filed the appropriate responses with the court which included proof of grief counseling, medical treatment records, dental records and other supporting documents to refute the allegation against them. All the right stuff, yet it continued.
It has been nearly one year since the Petition for Termination of Guardianship was filed. There have been court appearances every three months, three different Probate Court Investigations, one report from the children's court appointed attorney and a Family Court Mediation between the parties that included testimony from The Littles. All the reports from the above agencies have stated the children are happy living with Tom, Pam and their brother and sisters. They are healthy, well cared for and loved. Despite all of these professional reports, on January 18, 2017 their aunt demanded a trial before the Probate Court. The Lakes are heartbroken that all five of their children and extended family members will continue to suffer while this matter plays out in open court.
What they need
At the trial on April 7, 2017, Tom and Pam will stand before a Judge and fight to keep their family together. The Lakes need your help so they are not standing there alone. They need continued legal representation. Tom and Pam’s attorney has estimated an additional $8,000 to $10,000 to defend them and their other children during the trial process. This may seem excessive for a four hour trial, but their aunt has scheduled personal depositions and started the written"discovery process" both of which are very time consumming and expensive.
Tom and Pam have accumulated almost $10,000 in attorney fees to date. There is no time to save another $8,000 before April 2017. Tom is the sole financial support for this family of seven. Pam has been caring for the children since October 2014 and is currently seeking employment to help with family expenses.
Please help them give The Littles what so many of you have never had to consider living without, your family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Pam Lake
Organizer
Folsom, CA
Bryan Phipps
Beneficiary