Protect My Daughters’ Voices - GAL Fund

Hello, everyone.

I’ve found myself in a difficult and sensitive situation that necessitates reaching out for your support. As a devoted mother of two young daughters, I am fighting to protect their safety and well-being against a challenging family court system and a father who has neglected and abused them.

Despite findings of abuse and neglect by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the current custody arrangement allows their perpetrating father unsupervised access to my daughters, to the detriment of their well-being. I have been informed by DHHS that due to shared custody, this is a “family matter” rather than a child protective matter, and that the burden of initiating changes to the custody arrangement lies solely on me, the protective parent.

After recently securing legal representation (for a $5,000 retainer), I have filed a motion to modify our current custody arrangement. However, their father has countered with an aggressive counter-motion to gain primary custody, seeking to limit my time with my daughters to just three visits a month. This proposed arrangement is terrifying and would be extremely traumatic and severely disrupt our lives. Many people who haven’t had to be involved in the family court system do not realize that the system puts greater emphasis on parental rights rather than child protection.

The next crucial step in this process involves a hearing to appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) who can advocate for my daughters. A GAL is an advocate for children in court, responsible for investigating their best interests by interviewing them and relevant parties, like teachers and family members. They provide the court with an impartial assessment and recommendation, playing a vital role in ensuring that children's needs are prioritized over parental rights.

Unfortunately, their father has objected to a GAL and refuses to share the costs for this service, which is vital to ensuring my children have a voice. Without a GAL, any disclosures they’ve made to myself or other parties are considered “hearsay” and are not permissible evidence in court.

My attorney has told me that the only way to truly ensure that the girls have representation is if I pay for the GAL myself. The retainer fee for the GAL is $4,000. Although I have managed to set aside $1,000 for this purpose, I am now seeking the help of my friends and family to secure the remaining $3,000 needed to protect my daughters. Any contribution—no matter how small—will go directly towards helping ensure the safety and stability of my daughters’ lives.

Your support means the world to me and my family during this difficult time. I truly appreciate your generosity, compassion, and understanding as we navigate this.

Anonymous Protective Mother