Emergency Legal Fund to Help Will fight to bring Ellie Home

Will, my prospective son-in-law, traveled to Australia to check on his 16-year-old sister, Ellie, after discovering that their father—who suffers from a severe illness—had been hospitalized and was unable to care for her. Upon his arrival, Will found that Ellie had been home alone for over a week, with their father missing, leaving her future uncertain. Furthermore, two days ago, he discovered that his father's girlfriend is being considered as "next of kin" for guardianship, creating an urgent need for Will to advocate for Ellie’s well-being.

Will had not anticipated being in Australia indefinitely. He also did not foresee the necessity of navigating international custody laws or retaining legal counsel to fight for his sister. However, that is precisely what he now must do—and time is of the essence.

Why This Is So Urgent:

Ellie’s future is currently being determined, and Will is working to ensure she can return to her family in the United States.

He is also attempting to expedite her Australian/US passport at the consulate office located in Sydney, which is two hours away from Ellie’s current residence.

Their father is unable to care for her due to his impaired judgment and declining health.

A social worker has been discussing guardianship with their father’s girlfriend since February 18, unbeknownst to Will or any other family member until he was informed on February 28, 2025.

Will and his family need to secure legal representation immediately to advocate for Ellie’s best interests before decisions are made without their input.

How You Can Help:

We are raising funds to help Will with:

✅ Legal fees for an attorney to fight for Ellie’s guardianship

✅ Travel and living expenses while he is stuck in Australia, unable to work

✅ Paperwork and document processing fees to ensure Ellie’s rights are protected

✅ Court costs and filing fees to ensure Will and his family have a voice in this process

Every donation, big or small, will help Will and his family fight for Ellie.

Why This Matters:

Ellie lived in the U.S. from birth until 2021, when their father decided to take her to Australia to "start a new life" with his girlfriend.

Will is heartbroken that any of this is happening but determined to protect his sister from an unstable situation. He never asked for this battle, but he won’t give up on Ellie.

If you can donate, we are deeply grateful. If not, sharing this GoFundMe could help us reach others who can assist. Updates will be provided by me (soon-to-be mother-in-law) as they come, right here on this site.

The plan for Monday is to halt ongoing proceedings. Ellie wants to be with Will and her other siblings in the U.S. and has no desire to live with her father’s girlfriend. She had no idea any of this was happening—it has been an unexpected and shocking situation for both Will and all of his siblings.

Thank you for standing with Will and Ellie during this crucial time.

Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated and go right to Will and Ellie immediately.