Support Margo's Appeal for Custody

For privacy, the images of Margo's children have been blurred and their names are not listed.

If you’re reading this, you have either been directly impacted by Margo’s gentle, loving spirit, or you trust someone else who has. Maybe you shared a hug. A friendship. A brief conversation where you undoubtedly felt seen and understood by her. Or, maybe you’ve heard a story about her kindness—that’s all it takes to experience her warmth. I’ll bet you’re also aware of her unwavering commitment to her two children. They are her everything. The connection between Margo and her children is deep, beautiful, and unquestionable.

Margo recently endured a painful divorce. While she hoped for an amicable separation centered on the least painful outcome for her children, her desire was not reciprocated. She had to battle the complexities of the legal system without counsel, resulting in an unfair outcome. I was in the courtroom. It was difficult to watch. Margo was silenced by her ex husband’s team; they had far more resources and power. They wanted to take everything from her. And they did.

Once a devoted stay-at-home mother, Margo is now only allowed to see her children eight days a month, with no overnights. She sacrificed her own career development to enable her husband to work as a traveling salesman, and ultimately was left without financial support and stripped of the home where she raised her children. Her years of support and care has been valued at $0.

In Margo’s own words: “I know my children more than I know myself. The nuances of their personalities. How to support them during challenges with their communities, friends, and classmates. How to lift them up in the areas where they show drive and passion. When to allow them to pause, rest, and be calm in body and spirit. This is the nurturing they are used to from me, and it is now gone. I was the one who put them to bed and scratched their backs, which usually turned into important moments of stillness where they felt safe to share unspoken parts of their day. Those precious nights are gone. They do not have the person they trust the most at all, except during the day for eight partial days a month. No overnights. It’s all been taken.”

How can we help Margo?

Margo is going to appeal the court’s decision and get her children back. To do that, she needs our help to raise $15,000 to jumpstart her appeal. After exhausting her savings and a generous loan from her mother just to survive the initial divorce case, she’s starting this appeal with nothing. Divorce attorney rates in Virginia typically range from $200 to $650 an hour, and for complex, contentious cases like Margo’s, legal battles can stretch on for months or even years. On top of lawyer fees, she'll face court costs, expert witness fees, and other expenses that will build up throughout the case.

Margo needs her community to stand with her now more than ever. If you’ve ever known the depth of a mother’s love or can empathize with someone who has lost her voice, her power, and her ability to advocate for herself and her children, you are part of this community. Margo is an incredible mother, and her children deserve to be with her. Let’s come together and support Margo in this crucial fight for her family.