Bring Scarlett Home: Support Rachel's Legal Battle

My name is Rachel and I am trying to raise money to afford a lawyer for my ongoing custody battle.

My daughter Scarlett is currently 2.5 years old. She was born November 2022. I had Scarlett with me and my oldest daughter until December of 2023 when I made the mistake of letting her father take her for a visit. We had no pre-existing legal custody agreement and his name was on the birth certificate so when he decided to take her out of state 16 hours away and file paperwork against me for custody the courts let him. Our first hearing was in September 2024. I had to drive out all the way to Indiana which cost $400 for gas and a hotel room, thank goodness hotels out there have cheap rates. At that hearing, the judge granted the father physical custody with 50/50 legal custody. Meaning she has to live with him but we both have shared decision making. The Judge granted him physical custody solely for the fact that I had been staying back and forth with family members due to being homeless from coming back down to Massachusetts from a DV shelter in Maine where I had stayed for 6 months, after losing the apartment due to his abuse.

The Judge gave him physical custody even though I told the court about his abuse.

Then back in March of this year I hired a lawyer by using my tax return to pay the retainer. I got into housing, doing online back to school while working part time and also raising my other 2 children who I have full custody of. My lawyer and I worked hard to set up my case, even filed a few different motions.

I am so close to having my daughter back.

Our next court date was for the beginning of September 2025. A few days before the court date as I am packing to get ready and make the drive down I get a call from Indiana Child Services. They got a report about abuse in her fathers home. When they got there the abuse was obvious and her father was arrested for allegedly abusing another child that lived there.

Due to DCF involvement our hearing was pushed back to November 2025 and I had to hire my lawyer for the DCF court case. At the pre hearing the Judge gave me temporary placement of Scarlett but we have to be back down to court on October 7th 2025. My lawyer needs me to pay him another 10 hours of service at 3,000 by October 3rd for him to continue to represent me in both cases.

Scarlett is back home with me for now and she has been so happy with her siblings and even the dcf worker said she is acting like a completely different and happier kid.

Making this fundraiser is a last resort. Even if I can get alot of donations just for a dollar, anything helps.

Thank you!