This is a GoFundMe request from a mother and grandmother. Many fathers dealing with family court may relate to the presumptive and often biased decision-making of the family court system that automatically favors a mother, often without closer due process of details.

THE REQUEST: $15,000 MINIMUM

TIMELINE: Soon

THE RECIPIENT: A GEORGIA FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

THE BENEFACTORS: HIS 8- & 9-YEAR-OLD SONS, one of whom has a serious and often debilitating genetic blood disorder, Sickle Cell Anemia

My son was married in 2015 to the mother of his sons. He is a 16-year public servant as a firefighter, a Christian man, who will most likely lose his job and career if incarcerated. He needs his sons; his sons need him. Incarceration serves no one, nor repays the debt, threatens his ability to honor future child support payments, could potentially cause trauma to the children, plus adversely affect a wholesome and needed father/sons relationship that our communities desperately need. There are some flaws in a system that takes a one-size/ruling-fits-all approach to the lives of children in family court. As a mother, female, grandmother, I ask that you make this a memorable Father’s Day for my son by helping put this behind him. HE IS NOT A DEADBEAT DAD; HE’S A GREAT FATHER AND HE PAYS HIS CHILD SUPPORT.

• There was a mutually signed agreement (in 2019, when the bonds of marriage were broken) to resolve matters (no contest) as to property, alternating claiming the children for tax purposes, vacations, custody, home school education preferences, medical insurance, etc.

• She reneged and started divorce proceedings with representation that year...so the legal entanglement began. Documentation does exist for all of this.

• He then sought legal counsel. After 2 years of delays from the opposing side and $15,000 of paid fees, his attorney abruptly dismissed the case and no longer provided legal representation because of the inability to get a cooperative resolution.

• He continued getting the children as agreed, paying medical expenses, home schooling, but not being granted the option to use either child as a tax deduction as previously agreed.

• Since the final divorce decree, there is often disregard for specific orders and schedules without cause or communication.

When matters began to proceed again in 2022, another attorney, who misrepresented her skills and experience level, was hired and paid $10,000.

• After the final decree was granted, that attorney no longer responded to him, to the opposing attorney, to communication efforts, nor to the court when required in a timely manner...so here he is exhausted of all assets and subjected to:

• An Order on Attorney’s Fees and Costs to pay the other party's legal expenses from August 2021 to May 2023, due to the lengthy process;

• A motion for Citation of Contempt for collection of the $11,396.12 in fees, plus accrued interest and all “to be determined fees”;

• Calls and letters threatening incarceration for non-payment;

• Refusal by the opposing attorney to accept a payment plan within his means.