A father’s last hope: I must raise $5,000 by Sept 26 to keep fighting for my little boy.

My name is Tyler, and I am the father of a beautiful two-year-old boy who means absolutely everything to me. Being his dad is the greatest gift of my life, and all I want is to be there for every moment, every milestone, and every part of his childhood.

Without giving too much detail about the case, here’s where I’m at: back in January, we had settled on 50/50 custody, everything split down the middle evenly. Five days after the judge signed our custody agreement, the other party appealed. That’s when I had to retain my lawyer again and pay $4,000. I paid that, but now those funds have been used, and my lawyer has told me I need to come up with another $5,000 to keep my representation going.

At this point, I’m already $9,000 in—and while that number is staggering, the money itself means nothing to me compared to what’s at stake. Every dollar has been worth it because it allows me to fight for my son and remain in his life as the father he deserves.

To cover these costs, I’ve already drained my retirement fund and tanked my credit score. I’ve stretched every resource I have, but I’ve run out of options. My lawyer has given me until September 26th to pay, or I will lose representation. My next court date is October 27th, and if I walk into that courtroom without a lawyer, against the opposing party who does have representation, I’m terrified of what will happen.

I’ve never made a GoFundMe before. Honestly, I wouldn’t be here asking if I wasn’t desperate. This is my last hope. My son means everything to me, and I will fight until my last breath to be the father he needs and deserves.

If you’re able to help in any way—whether by donating or sharing this page—you’re helping me stay in this fight for my child. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing with me in this battle.

With gratitude and hope,

Tyler Cicone