Support a Family in Need: Legal Fees for Custody Battle

Friends and family, my children and I are in need of help.

I have been separated from my children’s father for over a year. My divorce has been a contentious one, as a custody battle has ensued for over a year. My parents and I have already spent $20k+ on legal fees and I am facing bankruptcy and loss of legal representation if I can’t pay down my legal fees as soon as possible. My divorce is almost finished and ready to settle, however the length of time this has taken and the amount of fees I have paid so far has proven to be detrimental to mine and the kids wellbeing and my ability to continue to be represented with my current law firm. I need to raise $3,000 as soon as possible to be able to settle my divorce and custody case, or be faced with my legal representation withdrawing right before settlement. I have been given no other choice but to ask my family and friends for help. Thank you all who have taken the time to read this.

In May of 2022 my children’s father was arrested for domestic violence and we were separated by protective order for two months before we reunited to try and work together to raise our kids. In October of 2022, I found a part time server job to help make ends meet. By May of 2023, my children’s father was arrested again and this time the protective order was reinstated. This arrest forced me to move from my shared apartment to my parent’s house with my three kids. I had to quit my part time job to make sure my children were taken care of during their father’s absence. During the next seven months, the kids and I had to rely on my parents and the LDS church for support while I waited for temporary orders with family court. In July of 2023, I filed for divorce and by this time my parents had already expended a large amount of money to help me to secure legal counsel. In October of 2023, the temporary orders provided me with child support and laid out temporary custody with the kids, giving me sole legal and physical custody of them. The custody battle that has ensued has caused my legal fees to soar and leaving me with almost nothing in order to support myself and the kids. In an attempt to win custody of his children, my soon to be ex husband has forced me into an extremely hard financial position that has made this debt extremely cumbersome. Along with the legal fees he has also left me with a car loan that his name was on, and the loan has now defaulted after it was repossessed. His refusal to help our children or work towards a settlement has completely bankrupt me and left me with no choice but to ask for help outside of myself and my parents. I hope that by asking for help with my legal fees that my counsel will finally draw up a settlement and come to the table with his attorney.

Thank you to all who have read this and consider donation, I am so grateful for our community and the support I’ve been given over this past year.