Support for Legal Fees in Regaining Child Custody

Hello, for those of you I haven't had the pleasure meeting, my name is Liz. I'm Phil's sister. I started this Gofundme with the intention of helping Phil raise money for legal fees in fighting for joint child custody. His daughter Leia is now 4 years old.

Before reading Phil's strife as of late, we ask this to remain confidential and trust this will not negatively reach Taylor and/or her immediate community. We're realizing just how delicate all of this is and would like to see through our chances at simply regaining his parental rights without creating more unnecessary complications and dramatics.

After a few years of Phil and Taylor's marriage experiencing an emotional ebb and flow, they decided on filing for divorce. It was a very mutual and cordial agreement between both of them. I can personally vouch for how mature and likeminded they were in the beginning, making this decision for the betterment of themselves and especially Leia. During the process of filing divorce, a co-parenting plan and the decision of sole or joint custody needed to be put in place. There was encouragement of sole custody working better for families by their mediator as well as immense pressure from Taylor desiring sole custody. Phil communicated his desire for joint custody repeatedly to both, but was discouraged to the point of him feeling defeated. He continued communication with Taylor, reluctantly agreeing to her having sole custody, but with a contingency of still having parental rights over Leia's well-being put in the contract. Sadly, all of this was taking place during the initial shock of the Covid-19 pandemic. I'd like to say Taylor's intentions of including Phil's parental rights and following through with the co-parenting plan were sincere. Unfortunately, with the pressure of the pandemic and divorce, we quickly started to feel Taylor's strings tighten long before the divorce contract and co-parenting plan was signed and finalized; leading into frequent disagreements and unresolved tension.

What we know is that the parenting plan is completely separate from custody rights. Yet Taylor continues to disregard the parenting plan agreement because she has sole custody rights. This is beyond unsettling, not only for Phil and Leia but for the immediate family, as everyone is affected. Lack and lax of communication from Taylor is the primary issue. Because of Taylor's inconsistent communication with Phil, he has documented and recorded many of their conversations in our attempt to support his case. What we've heard and seen is a considerable amount of emotional and manipulative behavioral patterns, which is the most unnerving abuse one can endure. As a result of these patterns, Phil has grown weary and anxious in his confrontations with Taylor. It breaks my heart to not be able to do more when I see him in this state, trying his best to stand up for himself and Leia, and repeatedly be spoken to as if he's an incoherent father. He has never been one for confrontation all his life, and he has been faced with the most challenging experience one can undertake. I truly believe in your lifetime you have to accept you darkest fears, whether you're prepared for it or not. We are taking all of this as the biggest learning experience and know that with your financial support we will come out of the other end with not only regaining Phil's rights as father, but with growth on how to effectively and graciously communicate with different personalities all together.

We are in need of this financial help as soon as possible. Most of you are probably privy to how long a process such as this can be. We are very grateful for you taking the time to read our story and for any support you send our way.