Empower Yadenee: Help with Divorce Fees for Fresh Start

My name is Yadenee Lewis, and I'm reaching out to request financial assistance to cover attorney fees as I navigate a challenging and unexpected divorce.

I am a 30-year-old Black woman trying to reclaim my independence and stability - and yes, this is my first divorce. I was with my husband, Eric Haven Lewis, for 8 years and we were married for 4 of those years. During our time together, I entrusted all our finances to Eric, contributing all my income to our shared account. Unfortunately, I lost my job as a Nutrition Educator at Feeding Tampa Bay in February. After I lost my job, he started to lash out and blame me for our financial issues despite the fact he brought in significantly more money than me ($130,000). Starting my business in April only made the arguments worse, I couldn’t think or focus and my mental health declined big time.

Two weeks after my step daughter graduated High School, Eric asked for a divorce (May 29,2024). He promised to help me out temporarily and continue to pay my student loans, but a month after he asked for the divorce I lost access to our joint bank accounts and credit cards, leaving me with no access to our money. Over the last 6 months, he has continued to remove me from necessary services, including health insurance, car insurance, and my phone line. He is not paying my student loans, so on top of everything else my credit score is dropping rapidly (500s). My name is still on the home we’re leasing, but all of my clothes and things have been packed up and put in trash bags. I am not allowed to enter the home without his expressed permission.

I’ve had to move around and stay with friends since May because I had nowhere else to go, and finding a job has been tough without a consistent phone line or stable living situation. My credit is taking a hit, and I’m struggling to pay for this divorce that I so desperately need.

I am humbly asking for $5,000 to cover legal fees to secure temporary alimony and protect my right to receive fair support as I transition to self-sufficiency. I want to be able to focus on my business, rebuild my life, and regain financial independence.

Any support you can offer would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for considering my request.

With gratitude,

Yadenee Lewis