Abducted child

Hello, my name is Zivile. I’m 32 years old Lithuanian single mother, who's been living and working in London for the past 8 years.

I’m here in this platform with the biggest hope that this GoFundMe account will help me pay for legal fees in my attempt to be reunited with my 5 year old son again, who has been abducted by his father and he is refusing to return him to me.

I haven’t seen my son since July the 22nd and this separation has been the longest period of time the two of us have been without each other since he was born. I don’t know when I’m going to see him again.

I have no choice but to go through the Family Courts system. It’s a very convoluted and costly process and no one can tell how long it’s going to take. However, it is a process that I simply cannot afford by myself. The solicitor fees will be around £8000-10,000 and each Court hearing an additional £4000-6000.

I have been very blessed to have my family that are back in Lithuania and some friends here in London who have been working so hard together to help me financially but this has unfortunately not been enough for what is required.

It has been very difficult for me to tell my story to everyone, as I am usually a very private person but I cannot keep fighting this alone. My heart is completely broken and I’m doing everything in my power to not give up, continue fighting until I get my son back home with me.

I will be eternally grateful for any donation and if you can’t donate, please share my story with other people. Thank you so much!

Further Background Information

5 years ago I gave birth to my son. Back then, his father and I lived together at his home.

The situation I was in with him at the time before and during the whole time of my pregnancy was very disturbing and difficult. English wasn’t my first language and didn’t have friends or family in London, I got sucked into an abusive and controlling relationship. His behaviour often scared me and I felt trapped. I was subjected to emotional and physical abuse.

When my son was 4 months old, we visited his grandparents for the first time. After we got back to England from a holiday in Lithuania I received a letter from the Family Court because my son’s father filed an application against me for child abduction - this was something that was agreed between us beforehand.

After my return to England, I did not have any other choice but to leave his home with my baby and moved to a woman’s refuge because I had no place to go to. We went through the Family Courts, which ruled that my son live with me, as he has been doing since he was born.

I have worked hard as a single-mother to regain my life over the past 5 years but nothing has changed with my son’s father - he continues to intimidate me and threaten to take my son away from me. He has done that now and I feel helpless. I am putting my faith in the legal system but the costs are too much for me to bear alone.

I am eternally grateful for any donation you can offer to help me be reunited with my son again.

https://paypal.me/2017070619891026?country.x=GB&locale.x=en_GB