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Sarah's Custody Battle Legal Fund

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My sister Sarah needs our help! We all know Sarah as the best friend and sister in the world who has managed to build a life and earn a degree as Math teacher despite all the odds she has faced in life, including when she was in the custody of the Department of Social Services while she was growing up. Today she is in the extremely sad and unfortunate situation of being in a contentious custody battle over her 1 year old son and has literally no money to pay for legal fees.

This is a dire, desperate situation. Sarah is a lovely person, a wonderful mother, a kind, thoughtful and generous friend and does not deserve what she is going through. The welfare of her son is at stake. She is facing an emergency custody battle, after seeking to remove her son from an abusive environment. Sarah hopes that eventually she will receive court-ordered child support from her son’s father, but because she was a full-time mother, she currently has no source of income. Sarah is relying on assistance from me, her sister, and brother-in-law to pay for gas and groceries. She genuinely has no financial resources, and has no other recourse but to appeal to the wide circle of family, friends and friends of friends who care about her to come to her aid.

On the other hand, her son’s father has deep resources. Her ex had a large inheritance and is also surrounded by family members that are wealthy. Sarah has been acting as a wife in every way, faithfully for the last 9 years. She largely gave up her career and hard-earned degree as a math teacher, lived with her ex in the small town of Rutherfordton, had a child with him, and has been raising their son. Because relocating in a custody case is very difficult, she can't currently move out of Rutherfordton where the job market is very challenging, so she cannot earn though she has been searching for full-time work diligently. Now, Sarah is unable to pay her lawyer. Sarah and her ex were building a home together in Rutherfordton, so she has had to seek temporary shelter during this incredibly difficult time. She has no personal savings and has no money left. 

Without our help, Sarah may have to fight to retain current custody of her son without legal counsel. The father, who has great financial leverage to prevail in court, is threatening to sue for sole legal custody and take all the marriage assets so that Sarah is left with very little or nothing. We must level the playing field.

Every cent raised will go to funding her custody and child support case and there is no amount that would be too small. At present, she is already needs $7,000 just to hire or retain the right lawyer to handle this complicated case. There will be a lot of media attention because of the controversy with those supporting her ex. Sarah's first emergency hearing is on Monday, March 14, 2016. We need to begin raising this money immediately.

All of us who know Sarah are heartbroken for her and sick at the difficulties she has endured. Despite the ongoing stress that this situation has created, she has kept a smile on her face and continues to be a positive and loving parent throughout. In order for Sarah to continue to fight for her son's well-being she needs help from all of us, which will not only take the form of funding but will ultimately come through as a show of loving, emotional support. Please, on behalf of Sarah, your support is invaluable during such a challenging time, and I sincerely hope you will help.


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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $1,000 
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Rachael Bryant
Organizer
Rutherfordton, NC
Rachael Bryant
Beneficiary

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