Our beloved family members need your help.

We the Hardy family request your assistance. The purpose of our GoFundMe Campaign is to aid our beloved family member, who is a single mother in raising funds for legal fees needed to petition the court's permission to relocate from New York to Atlanta, GA. The mother moved to New York in 2006 with her husband as a new bride, and from this union was born with 2 children, the 1st born child is diagnosed as Autistic. New York is the childhood home of the husband; the wife was new to the area and knew no one in New York other than her husband. As such the wife became a part of the husband's community, which consisted of his family members, his childhood friends, his work employees, etc. Unfortunately, the marriage ended in Divorce in 2018. The community that the wife was a part of maintained their loyalty to the husband, which left the mother and her children alone without a support system. The mother did forge friendships while in New York, however, those friends have relocated to other states, and although those friendships remain in tack, she and the children remain alone in New York. The mother was raised in Atlanta, GA, and has a strong family and support system in her home state. The children have spent most of their vacations and holidays in Atlanta and refer to it as their “homeland.” The mother’s family, friends, and support system are doing what they can to keep them afloat, but the distance as you can imagine leaves the mother and the children at a great disadvantage.

In April 2021 the mother filed a petition for relocation from New York to Atlanta. Due to a backlog in the court because of the pandemic, the case was not set for trial until September 2021. The father was upset that she filed the petition, and although he was rarely present in the kids’ lives, he decided he would again protest her request. The father, from that point, began a series of delays in the court. Using such tactics as showing up in court without his attorney, requiring a re-scheduling to allow his attorney to be present, and rescheduling dates due to what they report as scheduling conflicts on the part of him or his attorney. During these delays, the father started attending his visitations in an attempt to make it appear he was involved in the kids' lives. During the visitations, he began to antagonize the children in a quest to get information from the children on details of the pending case. The children would come from the visits distraught from the emotional verbal anguish he would inflict upon them. The father's conduct towards the children escalated so intensely that it resulted in Child Protective Services (CPS) intervention and the agency filing neglect charges against the father as a result of his physical and emotional attack on the children. During one of his visitations, it resulted in the father hitting the eldest child who is Autistic causing a mild concussion and an attempted attack on the youngest child, hits that she was able to block. The son had to experience going to the emergency, questioning by the police and a social worker, no experience any child should have as a part of their childhood memory. The investigation of the incident resulted in neglect charges being filed by "CPS" which further delayed her relocation case. The neglect matter took precedence over the relocation matter and had to be resolved before her relocation case could be set for trial. The father repeatedly delayed her relocation, by constantly attempting to get the charges against him by "CPS" dismissed. the father's efforts created constant court re-scheduling dates, which further delayed the time frame in which the relocation case could be set for trial. The constant delays, adjournments, rescheduling, and repeated hearing appearances have been a great strain for the mother and the children, resulting in them being displaced for 10 months and having to move into a hotel. A rent increase made it impossible to maintain her apartment lease. The mother filed her petition far in advance to avoid this type of circumstance, notifying the court at each hearing of her lease status, and even getting a lease extension which ultimately ran out. Each time another hearing date was assigned it was usually between a 30–60-day window, being repeatedly told that the court understands her situation, but the "CPS" matter had to be resolved 1st, leaving her and the children in limbo. The children’s lives have been interrupted by having bi-weekly visits with their attorney, and social workers and court-ordered therapeutic visits with a counselor. The father was allowed to have weekly “supervised visits only” during this time, with no other contact allowed pending the resolution of the neglect case. All the mother wanted was to provide a better life for her children, and as a result, they have been caught in a seemingly unfair legal system that unfortunately does not consider the individual lives involved and the impact the delays create. This series of events has taken a toll on the children, they have repeatedly expressed they don't want the visitations, as they are very unpleasant for the children, unfortunately, they are required to attend them. Although they understand that the attorney, social workers, and therapist are representing their interests. The children have expressed that they long to be able to embrace their life in their "homeland" Atlanta. It is inconceivable that a father would continue this type of conduct knowing it puts his children in this type of position.

The mother’s relocation request began in April 2021 and is now finally set for trial, but she is now met with a legal bill of $11,850, that must be satisfied before the attorney can represent her at trial. When the mother initially filed her petition, she had all the legal funds needed to petition her case and has made timely payments to her legal fees along the way. unfortunately, each subsequent hearing due to the neglect case orchestrated delays because of the father’s tactics and actions and the red tape of the legal system in New York have cost her additional legal fees, hotel fees, etc. Each action has caused a further deficit that the mother was trying to overcome by relocating to Georgia, virtually wiping away her funds. We are respectfully asking for any contribution that you can make to aid her with the funds that she needs for the trial and any additional expenses she may need to complete her relocation. She has been reassured by her attorney that she has a strong case, in addition, the children’s attorney, as well as “CPS” support her decision to relocate, and feels that the relocation would be in the best interest of the children. The father although being found guilty of neglect, is the only one contesting the move. When this process began, it was not the mother’s objective to remove the rights of the father, she and the children just simply want the same rights as anyone else. The mother wants to exercise her right to provide the best life that she can for her children, and the children want the opportunity to live with their mother in a place they feel accepted, appreciated, and loved which of course is their right. The mother and the children have expressed to the court in her petition, to attorneys, social workers, therapist, and to the father, that Georgia is where they want to live. As the court date is fast approaching, I am soliciting your assistance in helping this mother give the children back their childhood and aiding them in their objective to relocate to be with their family, their community, their village, and their “Homeland,” Georgia. Any amount you can contribute is appreciated.

***Due to the nature of the pending legal matter, and the involvement of "CPS", a picture of the mother and children is not displayed, a stock photo is used.