Helping Jeremy Fitts see his girls
Donation protected
I am setting this up for my Fiancé, Jeremy Fitts, as he is in need of help but won't ask for any help. He is a loving, caring, and supporting father who has an uphill battle against his ex for visitation rights. He does not have extra money for a lawyer and the only way he can stand a chance in the courtroom is to hire a lawyer.
We have asked a couple lawyers and they say the case is too complicated but we found an ex judge who is now a lawyer that feels fairly confident in the case and will take it but his retainer fee is $4,000. I am asking for $4,500 for gofundme expenses and unseen expenses.
Here's the story of Jeremy and Ashley:
They had a peaceful and understanding divorce in August 2013. He left her the house, so the kids would have same school and friends, and agreed to pay her $350 a week for support which included all of his bills also ( unfortunately this was a verbal agreement and would come back to bite him hard).
Jeremy met me in October that year and we hit it off instantly. Everything was fine as she was paying all of the agreed upon Jeremy's bills for the first year. That is Until I made the pregnancy announcement in July 2014. Once the announcement was made she secretly stopped paying Jeremy's bills and the car insurance lapsed and the cell phone went up to $1,000+. At the same time she stopped letting the girls come over whenever they wanted to and reduced visitation to every other sunday (9am to 7pm).
After i noticed some mild depression start to set in with Jeremy, I helped him file a Motion to Modify. Unfortunately where the $350 a week was a verbal agreement, but not written on the settlement, it made it void in a courtroom and he had to continue paying $350 a week (which he can't afford) for 2 kids, but we were able to get better visitation rights all year round. Not exactly what we wanted but was better than every other sunday.
When Jeremy fell behind in his payments to Ashley due to the winter, she immediately filed contempt papers because he was $659 behind ( she is getting close to $17,000 a year and held him in contempt for $659 smh). He was found in contempt as he could not afford her payments and a lawyer and ended up paying for her lawyer as well. Now that he is behind, it is almost impossible for him to catch up and is being held in contempt again and will most likely spend 14 days in jail.
Ashley has not had a job in over 5 years and the way the settlement is worded, she never has to work again. She refuses to work and lives strictly off of Jeremy and receives full benefits from the state. This is not how he wants his kids to learn how to grow up. He wants them to want to achieve more and earn their way through life.
And now last weekend Ashley withheld the girls from Jeremy and he had to order 3 Welfare checks ( when a police officer goes to addresses to find kids) just to find out where his kids were. This was incredibly stressful and sad. Both girls were upset as well that they couldn't come over. They both want to live with us also.
Jeremy doesn't show his feelings to the public because he wants everyone to be happy and not worry about his problems. But sometimes even the strongest willed and happy people need help. Every little bit will help in getting a lawyer to get the settlement changed to a reasonable support payment and, with fingers crossed, have the girls live with us like they both want to, but Ashley refuses them to live with us.
I know he does not want me to do this for him but he loves his girls and just wants whats best for them. He would be forever greatful for any help and i know he will do whatever he can to help the community out afterwards to help repay what was donated.
We have asked a couple lawyers and they say the case is too complicated but we found an ex judge who is now a lawyer that feels fairly confident in the case and will take it but his retainer fee is $4,000. I am asking for $4,500 for gofundme expenses and unseen expenses.
Here's the story of Jeremy and Ashley:
They had a peaceful and understanding divorce in August 2013. He left her the house, so the kids would have same school and friends, and agreed to pay her $350 a week for support which included all of his bills also ( unfortunately this was a verbal agreement and would come back to bite him hard).
Jeremy met me in October that year and we hit it off instantly. Everything was fine as she was paying all of the agreed upon Jeremy's bills for the first year. That is Until I made the pregnancy announcement in July 2014. Once the announcement was made she secretly stopped paying Jeremy's bills and the car insurance lapsed and the cell phone went up to $1,000+. At the same time she stopped letting the girls come over whenever they wanted to and reduced visitation to every other sunday (9am to 7pm).
After i noticed some mild depression start to set in with Jeremy, I helped him file a Motion to Modify. Unfortunately where the $350 a week was a verbal agreement, but not written on the settlement, it made it void in a courtroom and he had to continue paying $350 a week (which he can't afford) for 2 kids, but we were able to get better visitation rights all year round. Not exactly what we wanted but was better than every other sunday.
When Jeremy fell behind in his payments to Ashley due to the winter, she immediately filed contempt papers because he was $659 behind ( she is getting close to $17,000 a year and held him in contempt for $659 smh). He was found in contempt as he could not afford her payments and a lawyer and ended up paying for her lawyer as well. Now that he is behind, it is almost impossible for him to catch up and is being held in contempt again and will most likely spend 14 days in jail.
Ashley has not had a job in over 5 years and the way the settlement is worded, she never has to work again. She refuses to work and lives strictly off of Jeremy and receives full benefits from the state. This is not how he wants his kids to learn how to grow up. He wants them to want to achieve more and earn their way through life.
And now last weekend Ashley withheld the girls from Jeremy and he had to order 3 Welfare checks ( when a police officer goes to addresses to find kids) just to find out where his kids were. This was incredibly stressful and sad. Both girls were upset as well that they couldn't come over. They both want to live with us also.
Jeremy doesn't show his feelings to the public because he wants everyone to be happy and not worry about his problems. But sometimes even the strongest willed and happy people need help. Every little bit will help in getting a lawyer to get the settlement changed to a reasonable support payment and, with fingers crossed, have the girls live with us like they both want to, but Ashley refuses them to live with us.
I know he does not want me to do this for him but he loves his girls and just wants whats best for them. He would be forever greatful for any help and i know he will do whatever he can to help the community out afterwards to help repay what was donated.
Organizer
Amanda Cloutier
Organizer
Lewiston, ME