Support Brendan's Fight for Custody Rights

For the past year, my friend Brendan has been in a contentious battle for shared custody of his two small children, ages 7 and 2. Brendan has always been an active and engaged father while working full time to support his family. He was an essential part of his children’s daily lives until he and his ex separated last year, which resulted in him only being allowed limited access to his children while he fought in court proceedings. He was able to secure shared legal custody at court in October but continues to fight for a more equal parenting schedule.

Brendan moved within 10 minutes of his children after separating from his children’s mother in order to continue to be a present and active figure in his children’s lives. Brendan has been fighting in court against false reports of slander in order to gain more time with his children.

He has attended therapy with his son who has been deeply affected by his time away from Brendan, attended both children’s medical appointments, hosts early intervention biweekly for his daughter in his home and attends sporting practices, games and school events. He has continuously paid child support as well as other expenses for the children despite being left out of crucial decision making and experiences.

Each time Brendan has asked to mediate and negotiate for more time with his children so that he is not left out of important moments and milestones, he is back to court fighting a slew of new allegations, which now include slander about his girlfriend, newborn son and other family members. He has spent thousands of dollars since last year in attorney’s fees to fight for his children.

At Pre-Trial on 6/18/2025, Brendan entered mediation with three proposed parenting plans that would allow him additional time with his children including the ability to bring them to school and medical appointments as he’s been denied this for a year. Despite his best efforts and the support of the court mediator in gaining additional time with his children, he was unsuccessful. His son has repeatedly asked to spend more time with him and Brendan has been refused any additional time, including going to the movies or out to dinner for one-on-one time with his son. Brendan is now forced to go to trial to fight for physical custody due to the ongoing parental alienation and leave his children’s fate in the Judge’s hands.

There has never been a report of abuse or neglect, domestic violence or concerns for substance use or mental health by Brendan. He has no criminal record, has a consistent record of full time employment and a supportive group of family and friends who also remain active in the children’s lives despite the limited timeframe allotted to Brendan. The only barrier in Brendan having more time with his children has been the fabrications presented to the court that he continues to fight.

Brendan has faced an undue financial and emotional burden as he has continued to fight against parental alienation and defamation while caring for a newborn, who his children have had limited opportunity to bond with. To help lessen the burden placed on Brendan, he is in need of additional funds for continued legal representation at trial this winter in the hopes that he will be able to obtain physical custody for his children so that he can ensure their health and safety.

With your support, Brendan can continue to focus on fighting for his children without the added stress of money. No father should be kept from his children purely out of spite. His children want and need their dad in their lives, and he will continue to fight for them!