Update: Thanks to your generous support, Taryn was able to pay the retainer fee to her lawyer! However, more work needs to be done because the abusive ex-boyfriend STILL has full custody of Ember, with only twice weekly supervised visits with Taryn. Taryn’s first visit with Ember, since September 10th, was a supervised visit on October 11th. Taryn said, “Ember was so joyful the whole visit!” These supervised visits cost Taryn $300 for 4 hours, and the lawyer is expensive even after the retainer fee is paid. Please consider donating (again?) to help bring Ember home safe. Permanently.

Original post:

My friend Taryn needs help to bring her daughter home safe. She is in a custody battle with her abusive ex-boyfriend over their daughter Ember. He recently hired a high-powered lawyer, and they served Taryn emergency orders and took Ember away, claiming that Taryn is mentally unstable and unfit to care for her daughter. If you know Taryn, you know that she mellow, humble, and joyous, and literally works with children professionally. She has cared for children for years, with tons of positive references from local families.

PLEASE help Taryn hire a lawyer so she can get these positive references, along with evidence of abuse by Ember's dad, in front of a judge. Taryn tried to submit the documentation herself for the hearing on September 24, but it was not in the perfect legal format, so the hearing got postponed until October 8 (the next time our small town holds family court).

Taryn found a lawyer and now needs to hire him. This is a time-sensitive matter. Ember has been with her abusive dad since September 11 full time, with no calls or visitation allowed. Taryn cares for children professionally, which is not lucrative, so she needs our community support to bring Ember back home safe, as quickly and permanently as possible.