Legal Fund for Divorced Single Mom

Hello! My name is Amanda and I'm starting this Go Fund Me for my friend Gail Swanson who I have known since 2012. (The photo is of Gail and I.) I'm asking for 15k to allow Gail to retain new legal counsel for a petition to end spousal maintenance.

Here's the backstory: In 2017 Gail decided to end her marriage. She went through a very expensive, high conflict divorce that was finalized in 2018. Gail had no assets and a considerable amount of marital debt. The outcome of the divorce was that she had to take on all the marital debt, she had to pay out a substantial amount of alimony on a regular and recurring basis, and Gail also received custodial custody of her two children.

As a close friend of Gail's, I have watched her struggle with financial insecurity for years since the divorce was finalized. Gail's constant reality is living paycheck to paycheck while sometimes having to get creative with making funds last depending on when bills come due. Gail does not have any support from her family, as she is a survivor of childhood abuse and has been medically diagnosed with chronic PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

In 2022 Gail retained a lawyer and filed a petition to end paying spousal maintence. (This would hopefully allow her to stop paying alimony.) Gail was recently informed by her attorney that her attorney could no longer handle her case due to health issues and that her case would need to be transitioned to a new attorney.

Gail is unable to pay the funds that are needed to retain a new attorney. There is a sense of urgeny around this Go Fund Me, as Gail was informed by her departing attorney that she has a court date in July and she has to have legal representation established for that court date. Gail is not able to take on additional work outside her current full time job as she is solo parenting 2 kids in middle school and high school while also receiving regular mental health treatment for her C-PTSD. Her disability limits her from taking on the stress of additional work on top of the already stressful living situtation that she's had to deal with now for many years.

Completing this case will mean paying a new retainer fee along with considerable additional fees for investigators and depositions, as the burden of proof falls on Gail and her attorney for filing the petition. It's impossible for Gail to pay these fees as she has to continue paying alimony at this time. After the case is completed, if she is granted the petition the financial insecurity that she and her children are experiencing will finally lessen.

I have witnessed Gail persevere in the midst of constant struggles and obstacles. She's invested so much time and effort into her own mental health so that she can in turn be a kind, caring, and present parent for her two children. Gail is a fantastic Mom who is always invested in her childrens' well being. The three of them have developed a tight community of family support where her kids regularly help their mom out with things like repairing the dishwasher and going on grocery runs. It's been heartbreaking for me to watch Gail struggle to make ends meet. She'd like to be able to do normal, enjoyable family activities like take her kids on a modest family vacation this last Summer before her son graduates from high school.

The funds will be used for a retainer for a new legal representation, court fees, and fees for investigators.

I'm incredibly grateful for any support to help Gail out during this difficult time. Gail has been a supportive friend to me over the years and she is someone I love very much. I'm not able to provide her with significant financial support, but I am able to tell her story so that she can get the help that she truly deserves.