Help a Single Mom Secure a Fair Divorce

Preschool aide, nanny, and single mother of 2 children, ages 4 and 8, working my tush off to provide for them.

I’m asking the community to help me afford divorce court.

After paying thousands in mediation to come up with a fair agreement, and filing for no-fault divorce with a joint lawyer (all of which was notarized and agreed to by my ex and myself), my ex decided to breach our contract with our lawyer and refused to sign. He stated not wanting to be legally held to the financial mediation agreement, deemed fair and just by a third party.

My youngest has special needs and is attending a special school that can support him with those needs, which has had federal funding stripped by the current administration. My hours of being able to work are incredibly limited; time is missed when kids are sick, etc. He does not help us during these times. Because my son has special needs, I cannot leave him in standard care. His school does not offer before and after care; only one local daycare does, but there is no transportation available, so I cannot work my full hours at any job.

My ex makes 4x what I do hourly (construction-union). He also lives with 4 other adults (family who help take care of kids on his weekend) rent-free and doesn’t contribute to the costs that arise for school and childcare. I do not have the same support system. I invested in his career growth, retirement, and 401K with the understanding that these would help sustain me too in the future. I now have nothing and no assets.

Filing for divorce in my county and state has a $700 filing fee. My lawyers, who assisted my child support case with minimal payment, need a $5,000 retainer to proceed, so we can fight for him to be held to the original agreement.

Please help me be done with this man once and for all. I want off the ride.