Legal Support to Protect a Mother–Daughter Bond

My name is Sarah “Pearl” Angove, and I am the mother of a beautiful, bright, and sensitive 5-year-old girl, Estelle. Since the day she was born, I have been her constant caregiver and source of safety: I breastfed her for 3.5 years, co-slept with her, homeschooled her, took her to every doctor’s appointment, and spent 98% of her life by her side.

Estelle is thriving because of the love, care, and stability I have provided. Her days are filled with learning, baking, playing, and growing in the safe, nurturing home environment I’ve built for her.

But recently, everything changed.

At the start of September 2025, her father abruptly withheld her from me. This has left me in a custody battle that has been overwhelming to fight on my own. I’ve had to file motion after motion, prepare exhibits, secure housing, and document everything without professional legal support. I have been going into debt just to keep up, while trying to protect my daughter’s stability and ensure her voice is heard.

Estelle has been clear about her feelings—she cries at exchanges, clings to me, and tells her father she wants to stay with her mother. This isn’t because I’ve planted ideas in her head. It’s because she is bonded to her primary caregiver, and separating her abruptly causes her trauma. Research is clear: secure attachment to a primary caregiver is essential for healthy brain development, emotional stability, and lifelong resilience. Prolonged separation from that caregiver at this age causes confusion, anxiety, sleep disruption, and long-term harm.

Despite this, I’ve been left to fight alone against a family system with financial resources and legal representation. I have been a stay-at-home mother for six years. I am sober, healthy, and of sound mind, but I do not have the savings to cover the retainer and legal costs needed to ensure my daughter’s best interests are protected in court.

This is not about “winning” or “losing.” This is about making sure Estelle’s voice is honored, her stability is preserved, and her future is not compromised by decisions that disregard her developmental needs.

I am seeking to raise $13,000 to cover:

Attorney retainer to secure representation in Family Court $10,000

Court costs and filing fees (1/2 Best Interest Fact Finder investigation) $1000

Required documentation and professional reports

Debt from the last month of fighting alone, and assistance for this month as I get on my feet. $2000 (housing, transport, car payment, phone bill, insurance)

My next court date is October 28, 2025. To properly prepare, I urgently need to retain legal counsel as soon as possible. Without immediate representation, I risk going into this critical hearing without the support necessary to present Estelle’s needs and best interests clearly and effectively.

How You Can Help:

Donate any amount — every contribution helps me get closer to stability.

Share this fundraiser with friends, family, and networks.

Encourage and uplift us through your prayers and words of support.

Your support will allow me to continue protecting Estelle’s safety and stability, ensuring she grows up with clarity, ease, and the love of the mother who has been by her side since day one.

Thank you for standing with us during this difficult and urgent time.

With gratitude,

Sarah “Pearl” Angove