Legal Fund
In March of 2013 I was given direction to leave my marriage with my three small children. We left with the clothes on our backs, a large tote with the laptop I am using to start this campaign and each of the kids' "5 favorite things", and our cat. Beyond a small amount of cash I pulled out for our trip to go where I was directed (where I felt safe), that was it. That was all.
When we arrived at our destination, I got a job to start providing for my children and to also hopefully allow funds for my impending divorce. Unfortunately I was not able to get money and representation as quickly as the other party and I was sent to a hearing representing myself. As a mother of 3 that left the professional world for nearly the entire duration of my marriage, I was ill-equipped (to say the least) to present my evidence before the judge, and I lost everything. I lost custody of the children for whom I was the stay at home parent, I lost a place to live, I lost a lot of my belongings...and I lost hope.
Caring people were able to help me start a small life for myself while our original divorce case was in litigation, but the attorney that I had did not explain very much to me about the very complicated issues that were at hand and very carelessly but strongly advised me to settle out of court. So I did. He did not seem like he was going to fight for me at all, and motivating him was impossible as I had run out of funds.
I was able to gain representation from a second attorney who agreed to represent me pro bono, but, after representing me for a number of months, informed me that he had too full of a caseload to continue to be my attorney. Among other things, he did do this for me, however: he assured me that there IS merit to my case (meaning this IS WINNABLE!) and he referred me to another attorney within his own practice.
I have already met with this new attorney. He has given me instructions that I am following, but he cannot represent me for free.
That is where you come in. This is where I need your help. I wish I could tell you how many days in a row after this meeting I have purposely looked away from my computer and have avoided doing this. Through this crazy journey there have been so many generous people that I did not want to seem ungrateful or pushy, but I need your help. I do not have the ability to gain the funds to pay for his representation. I have had to swallow my pride and write this description. I have had to remind myself that you ARE still there for me, and while there may be those of you that cannot help financially, there may be some of you that can.
If you have any questions about details that I am disallowed from sharing here, I want to tell you that I welcome them and am comfortable sharing details with you. If you have reached this page, it is by direct request because I feel that my heart and my life are safe with you.
This fund is to pay for legal fees and legal fees alone. This fund is to fight for justice.
If you have read this far then I have no choice but to thank you. If you have the ability to help financially then know that I consider myself forever indebted to you, and I will never forget a gift of any amount.
Thank you. From the bottem of my heart...thank you.