Assistance with Legal Fees

I have been embroiled in a divorce/child custody case for nearly 4 years now and I have reached a point where I can no longer afford my lawyer's fee to fight my case. I separated from my ex in the fall of 2020 and officially filed for divorce in April of 2021. Over the next year and a half I did whatever I could to push the case forward, often compromising my own wishes in the spirit of cooperation. Through the course of this case, I never pushed for anything other than complete equality when it comes to custody because I truly believe that is what is in the best interest of my children.

My divorce was officially finalized in November of 2022, through mediation and mutual agreement between myself and my ex. The terms we agreed to were nearly identical to the ones I initially proposed a year and a half earlier, delayed only by my ex's unwillingness to cooperate. I did not receive a major payout from my ex, I didn't even ask for lawyer's fees. I walked away with 50/50 custody and monthly child support that was calculated by the courts. Not even 6 months later, in April of 2023, my ex filed for a modification to have my custody reduced from every other week to Wednesdays and every other weekend. According to what my ex has filed, the reasons for this modification are based on her personal feelings on how I raise my children and keep my home. The majority of the issues she cites as examples for my inadequate parenting have since been resolved (i.e. my inconsistent work schedule, registering the kids for school, and postponing a non-emergent surgery for my youngest until his body could handle it better) and yet she is still pursuing this modification.

The continuation of this case has put me in a severe financial bind. I am already living paycheck to paycheck and have maxed out credit cards to continue filling my lawyer's retainer. My credit score, while slowly building, is lower than most reputable lenders will accept for a personal loan and my savings have been almost entirely depleted. So far, I have been able to keep up with my monthly bills and I am not in jeopardy of losing my home. However, the time has come to once again fill my lawyer's retainer and I simply do not have the $5,000 he needs to continue with my case.

The trial date for this case is scheduled for February of 2025 and, while I don't believe this will be the ultimate end, I am hopeful that once this has been wrapped up I'll have a chance to catch up financially. I am only looking to raise enough money to be able to keep my lawyer through the next few months. I appreciate any support you could offer.