Who I am

I am Sophia, I run the Youtube channel Melouche and work for multiple non-profits on communication management. The non-profits I work for have a common goal which is to break the isolation met by adults with mental health challenges and/or living with any kind of incapacity. On Youtube, I provide tutorials and entertainment content related to Last Shelter Survival mobile game.

Summary

I am separated for over 3 years. due to waiting for the permanent residency, covid, trying without success all kinds of mediation possible, and diverse other issues, the divorce hasn't been pronounced yet, but it's now urgent: the father of my kids just announced moving 5 000 km away and demand 50% / 50% child custody as in 1 year / 1 year.

This would be detrimental to the development of the kids, who need stability in their education that I can provide in the country they lived in all or most of their life: Canada.

Unfortunately, when parents disagree on custody, the lawyer fees engaged can increase fast, and even faster in this situation as the father of my kids plans to leave the country beginning of October.

Besides the children's custody, their father refuses to pay child support, and for me to take furniture we had bought together over 3 years ago or my share of the house sale. Which makes me unable to set up my new apartment even though I have had it for almost 2 months.

What am I trying to achieve

My goal is simply to afford legal representation with a lawyer who can get the divorce with all its details done quickly before the father of the kids leaves the country.

If it succeeds, I would be able to furnish my new apartment. For instance, with appliances and get the bed I've been sleeping alone in for 3 years.

With a professional representation, I wouldn't give up under the pressure on the financial rights we have like child support and a share in the house sale. Finally, I am asking for 50% / 50% children's custody only IF their father stays in the Québec area, and full custody if he leaves the country.

Of course, the kids could visit on holidays, but I want an opportunity for them to keep the same school and friends year after year.

The next step

I get a weekly bill from the lawyer's office which amount depends on the time and resources put into my case during this week. The next step is to pay the bill for this week and be able to afford the bill that will be coming next week.

On August 18th, we should have a virtual meeting with a judge who will decide on all urgent matters: splitting the furniture that was bought as we were married so I can move entirely into my new apartment and the children's custody from now to October 1st - when their father move 5 000 km away.

How much am I trying to raise

The first week, the bill was 2 975,11 $ and I've been warned to expect between 10 000 $ and 20 000 $ total fees over a short period of time.

I set up the goal at 3 000 $ to ensure I can cover the week we meet with the judge for the emergency decisions.

Second-week update: the bill was 2 972,56 $. Emergency decisions covering the period from now to September 28th have been taken.

I updated the goal to 6 000 $ to ensure I can cover the fees for the preparation for the next meeting with lawyers that should happen in September.

Third and fourth weeks update: it's calming down, but now I am not able to cover lawyer fees and daily living... My ex-husband finally has a lawyer, and they want to sit for 4 hours together to negotiate. This would cost me at least 2 000 $ so my lawyer is instead demanding that he states what he wants: is he still leaving the country? And if not, where will he live? I had to take a loan to buy a new car to be able to go to work (and car seats for the kids), so will he buy my share of the car or do we sell it, or is he just keeping it and I get nothing?

So far, he also didn't sign the divorce protocol, which requires more work from my lawyer and her assistants to follow up.

My new bill for the divorce protocol and this negotiation about negotiating is 933,95 $. Because of all the other extra expenses I had recently (car seats, fridge, a few pieces of furniture for the apartment), I had to take the money I had set aside to pay for my apartment for October to pay this bill (1 045 $).

I updated the goal to 8 000 $. It's probably not enough, but I would like at least to be able to secure 1 045 $ on a saving account before the end of the month to be able to pay for my apartment in the case I don't get the money from the house sale immediately after signing it.

How long do I have to raise it

A week.

I will update this amount as time passes and until the beginning of October when the house sale will be finalized and I'll finally be able to afford those weekly bills.

THANK YOU

I am incredibly grateful for any support that you can offer. Every donation, no matter its size, means the world to my sons and I.